A Lagos High Court has approved an ex parte application submitted by the State’s Attorney General, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Lawal Pedro. This application seeks to limit the proposed nationwide protest scheduled for August 1 to two locations in Lagos: Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park in Ojota and Peace Park in Ketu.
Justice Emmanuel Ogundare issued an interim injunction as a pre-emptive measure, restricting the defendants from gathering and conducting the proposed protests in Lagos between August 1 and 10, except in the designated locations and within the hours of 8 am to 6 pm.
The application names the defendants as Adamma Ukpabi and Tosin Harsogba (representing the Active Citizens Group); Comrade Juwon Sanyaolu and Hassan Soweto (representing the Take it Back Movement); unknown persons; and the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State.
In presenting the application, the Attorney General argued that, as the State’s Chief Law Officer and being aware of notifications from various groups for and against the protest, it is crucial to safeguard the state’s critical infrastructure and prevent any loss of life and property, as occurred during the EndSARS protest in 2020.
Pedro further contended that the State Police lack sufficient manpower to secure the protesters, who planned to demonstrate across all local government areas, public highways, and other accessible locations in the State.
He emphasised the need to prevent the protest from being overtaken by hooligans who might exploit the situation to disrupt public order and cause destruction under the guise of protesting against perceived poor governance.
Pedro stated, “While acknowledging the fundamental right of citizens to publicly protest against government policies and actions, it is essential to prevent the unlawful destruction of lives and property. Therefore, the Lagos State Government has designated two public areas—Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park, Ojota, and Peace Park, Ketu—where citizens may gather to express their grievances.”
He added, “A public protest spanning all local government areas, public highways, and other accessible areas in the State for ten days is a deliberate attempt to disrupt the State’s normal functioning and, if permitted, would amount to economic sabotage.
“Thus, a court order is necessary to protect both the right of the first to fifth Defendants/Respondents to protest and the right of other residents to carry on with their daily activities without harassment, disturbance, or damage to public property.”
After considering the arguments, Justice Ogundare granted all the requested reliefs outlined in the application.