A Lagos High Court has granted an ex-parte application filed by the State’s Attorney General, Lawal Pedro, SAN, seeking to restrict the proposed August 1 nationwide protest in Lagos to Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park in Ojota and Peace Park in Ketu.
Justice Emmanuel Ogundare issued an interim injunction, limiting the defendants from holding the proposed protests in Lagos from August 1-10, except in the two designated locations between 8 am and 6 pm.
The defendants listed in the application are Adamma Ukpabi and Tosin Harsogba (for Active Citizens Group); Comrade Juwon Sanyaolu and Hassan Soweto (for Take It Back Movement); Persons Unknown; and the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State.
In his application, the Attorney General argued that, as the Chief Law Officer of the State, and being aware of notices from different groups for and against the nationwide protest, there is a need to protect the state’s critical infrastructure and prevent potential loss of lives and property similar to what occurred during the EndSARS protest in 2020.
Pedro also stated that the police in Lagos do not have sufficient manpower to provide security support for protesters planning to demonstrate across all local government councils, public highways, and other public areas in the State.
He further emphasized the need to prevent the protest from being hijacked by hoodlums prepared to breach law and order and cause destruction under the guise of protesting against alleged bad governance.
According to Pedro, “In recognition of the citizens’ fundamental right to stage a public protest against government policies and actions but prevent unlawful destruction of lives and properties in the process, the Lagos State Government has designated two public spaces and locations in the State where citizens can meet and converge to protest or express their displeasure against government. The locations are Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park, Ojota, Lagos State and Peace Park, Ketu, Lagos State.
“Public protest in all the local government councils and public highways as well as other areas of public access in the State for 10 days is a deliberate plan to shut down the State and if this is allowed it will amount to economic sabotage.
“An order of the court is required in the circumstances so as to protect the fundamental rights of 1st to 5th Defendants/Respondents to protest and other residents opposed to the protest to go about their lawful without harassment, disturbance and destruction of public buildings/properties.”
After listening to his argument, Justice Ogundare granted all the reliefs sought in the application.
