A Lagos High Court has ordered that organizers of the proposed hunger protest in Lagos remain in confined locations all through the duration of their demonstration in the state.
It further mandated that the organizers and other residents of Lagos aiming to participate in the demonstration should converge and remain inside the Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park in Ojota and Peace Park, Ketu area of the state.
The court ruling came barely two days to kick off the protest on Thursday August 1st, 2024, a demonstration being organized by Nigerians against policies and programs of the President Bola Tinubu administration.
The court presided over by Justice Emmanuel Ogundare gave the restriction on Tuesday following a preemptive exparte application filed the state Attorney -General and Commissioner for Justice, Lawal 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.
Listed in the application as co-defendants are Adamma Ukpabi and Tosin Harsogba (for Active Citizens Group); Juwon Sanyaolu and Hassan Soweto (for Take it Back Movement); Persons unknown and Commissioner of Police, Lagos State.
Pedro maintained that the Police in the State do not have sufficient manpower to provide security support for the protesters who planned to protest in all the local government councils and public highways and other areas of public access in the State.
According to Pedro, “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.
“Public protest in all the local government councils and public highways as well as other areas of public access in the State for 10 days is a deliberate plan to shut down the State and if this is allowed it will amount to economic sabotage.