A Lagos High Court has granted an ex parte application filed by the State’s Attorney General, Lawal Pedro, SAN, to limit 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, restricting the defendants from organizing the protests in Lagos from August 1-10, except at the two designated locations between 8 am and 6 pm.
The defendants listed in the application include 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.
Attorney General Pedro argued that, as the Chief Law Officer of the State, there was a need to protect critical infrastructure and prevent loss of lives and property, as experienced during the EndSARS protests in 2020.
He emphasized that the police lacked sufficient manpower to secure protesters if demonstrations were to occur across various local government councils, public highways, and other public areas.
Pedro also highlighted concerns that the protest could be hijacked by hoodlums aiming to cause chaos under the guise of public dissent against alleged bad governance.
Pedro stated, “To recognize citizens’ fundamental right to protest while preventing unlawful destruction, the Lagos State Government has designated Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park and Peace Park as the approved locations for such activities.
Protesting across all local government councils and public highways for 10 days would effectively shut down the State, amounting to economic sabotage.”
He further contended that a court order was necessary to balance the rights of both the protesters and other residents who wish to go about their activities without disruption.
After considering Pedro’s arguments, Justice Ogundare granted all the reliefs sought in the application.
