A Lagos High Court has issued an order restricting protests in the state to two specific locations: Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park in Ojota and Peace Park in Ketu. This decision was made on Tuesday by Justice Emmanuel Ogundare, following a preemptive ex parte application submitted by the state’s Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Lawal Pedro, SAN. The application sought to ensure public safety and prevent potential damage to lives and property during the protests.
The application listed co-defendants, including Adamma Ukpabi and Tosin Harsogba (representing Active Citizens Group), Comrade Juwon Sanyaolu and Hassan Soweto (representing the Take It Back Movement), unknown individuals, and the Commissioner of Police for Lagos State.
In his argument, Mr. Pedro emphasized his responsibility as the state’s chief law officer, highlighting the need to protect critical infrastructure and prevent a recurrence of violence similar to the #EndSARS protests in 2020. He expressed concerns that the state police lacked sufficient manpower to ensure security for protesters across all local government areas and public spaces in Lagos.
Pedro further argued that unrestricted protests could be exploited by individuals with malicious intent, leading to potential lawlessness and destruction under the guise of demonstrating against perceived government shortcomings. He noted that the state government recognizes the right of citizens to protest but emphasized the necessity of designated locations to prevent disruptions to public order.
In his ruling, Justice Ogundare agreed with the arguments presented and granted the reliefs sought, thus allowing protests only at the specified locations to balance the right to protest with the need for public safety an d order.
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