A Lagos High Court has confined protesters participating in the proposed August 1 nationwide demonstration to Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park in Ojota and Peace Park in the Ketu area of the state.
Justice Emmanuel Ogundare issued this restriction on Tuesday in response to a preemptive ex parte application filed by the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Lawal Pedro, SAN.
The application aimed to maintain public safety and prevent irreparable loss of life and property during the protests.
The application listed Adamma Ukpabi and Tosin Harsogba, representing Active Citizens Group, Comrade Juwon Sanyaolu and Hassan Soweto, representing Take it Back Movement, unknown persons, and the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, as co-defendants.
Mr. Pedro, in presenting his application, stressed the need to protect the state’s critical infrastructure and prevent a repeat of the destruction seen during the EndSARS protest in 2020.
He highlighted the insufficient manpower of the state police to provide security across various protest sites and warned of the potential for hoodlums to hijack the protests.
Pedro stated, “In recognition of the citizens’ fundamental right to stage 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.”
He further argued that allowing protests in all local government councils and public highways for 10 days would lead to economic sabotage and necessitated a court order to protect both protesters’ rights and those of other residents.
Justice Ogundare, after considering the arguments, granted all the reliefs sought. He issued several orders, including interim injunctions restricting the protests to the designated areas from August 1-10, 2024, between 8 am and 6 pm, and directives for the police to provide security and traffic management support.
He also ordered the substituted service of the court order and related documents via publication in a widely read national daily newspaper, which will be considered sufficient service on the defendants.
