Court extends restriction of protests to two venues in Lagos

Court extends restriction of protests to two venues in Lagos

A Lagos High Court in Igbosere has issued a renewed order limiting protest locations in Lagos to specific areas in Ojota and Ketu.

This decision was made by Justice S.I. Sonaike in response to a request from the Lagos State Attorney-General, Mr. Lawal Pedro.

The request sought an extension of a previous order, which had been granted after fulfilling necessary protocols for preemptive measures.

The initial protocols were set by Justice Emmanuel Ogundare, a vacation judge, during a prior hearing.

In court on Tuesday, the Attorney-General’s representative, Mr. Hameed Oyenuga, informed the judge that all necessary parties had been duly notified of the initial court order.

This notification was done in accordance with established procedures for seeking preventive measures against the protest leaders.

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By serving the court order, the Attorney-General had fulfilled the required steps to ensure that all respondents were aware of the legal action taken against them.

He argued that though the respondents in the suit were yet to respond to the application, there is a need to extend the earlier restriction order of the protest to two venues so that the state can continue to enjoy the relative peace being experienced despite the ongoing protests across the country.

In her ruling, Justice Sonaike noted that she is satisfied with the AG’s compliance with the orders of Justice Ogundare and order that the restriction of the protests to Freedom and Peace Parks in the Ojota and Ketu areas of the state be extended until full compliance with the preaction orders.

Justice Ogundare, last week, while ruling on a preemptive exparte application filed Mr Pedro seeking to maintain and secure public safety and prevent irreparable loss of lives and property in the state during the period of the protests, placed restrictions on the protesters.

Listed in the application as co-defendants are Adamma Ukpabi and Tosin Harsogba (for Active Citizens Group); Comrade Juwon Sanyaolu and Hassan Soweto (for Take It Back Movement); persons unknown; and Commissioner of Police, Lagos State.

While moving his application before the court, Mr. Pedro argued that, as the Chief Law Officer of the State and having been privy to notices by different interests who are for and against the nationwide protest, there is a need to protect the critical infrastructures of the state and prevent an irreparable loss of lives and property as witnessed during the EndSARS protest in 2020.

Court extends restriction of protests to two venues in Lagos