Protests in Lagos can now only be held at Freedom, Peace Park. Read more about the court’s ruling and its impact.
According to the Lagos State Attorney General, it is necessary to thwart any attempt by lawless individuals seeking to exploit and disrupt the protest with their destructive activities across various areas.
The Attorney General of Lagos filed an exparte application which was granted by the High Court, allowing for a restriction on the upcoming nationwide protest scheduled for August 1. It has been directed that within Lagos State, protesters are limited to two locations; Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park in Ojota and Peace Park in Ketu.
An interim injunction was granted by Justice Emmanuel Ogundare to enforce a pre-emptive remedy that prohibits the defendants from rallying and executing their intended protests in Lagos between August 1st and 10th, except for on two specified premises during designated hours of operation from eight o’clock in the morning until six o’clock at night.
Adamma Ukpabi and Tosin Harsogba (representing Active Citizens Group), Comrade Juwon Sanyaolu and Hassan Soweto (affiliated with Take it Back Movement); as well as Persons unknown, along with the Commissioner of Police for Lagos State are all named defendants in the application.
The Attorney General presented his case before the court, asserting that in his capacity as the Chief Law Officer of the State and having received communication from various stakeholders both for and against the nationwide protest, it is imperative to safeguard critical infrastructures of the state. He emphasized that such measures are crucial to avoid a repeat of loss experienced during EndSARS protests last year – which resulted in extensive damage to property and irrecoverable loss of lives.
Additionally, Pedro asserted that the State’s Police lacks adequate personnel to offer security assistance for demonstrators preparing to protest on public roads and other areas accessible by the public in all local government councils.
He contended that it is crucial to ensure the prevention of thugs taking over the protest and using it as an excuse for engaging in illegal activities, causing damage across various locations within the State while purportedly protesting against alleged poor governance.
Pedro stated that in acknowledgment of the fundamental right of citizens to stage public protests against government policies and actions, while also preventing any unlawful destruction of property or harm to people’s lives in the process, two designated locations are available for protesting or expressing dissent towards government. These areas include Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park located at Ojota, Lagos State as well as Peace Park situated in Ketu, Lagos State.
Organizing public protests across all local government councils, highways and accessible public areas in the State for 10 consecutive days constitutes a deliberate strategy aimed at bringing operations to a halt. Permitting this plan would amount to acts of economic sabotage.
The protection of the fundamental rights of both the 1st to 5th Defendants/Respondents who wish to protest and other residents opposed to said protest, as well as ensuring that they can go about their lawful activities without encountering harassment or disturbances nor destroying public buildings/properties requires a court order.
All the reliefs sought in the application were granted by Justice Ogundare after considering his argument.
