Should the organisers of the planned protest insist on going ahead with it in Lagos, they must restrict themselves to two locations — Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park, Ojota, and Peace Park, Ketu — a High Court ruled yesterday.
Justice Emmanuel Ogundare of the Lagos High Court issued the restriction following a pre-emptive ex-parte application filed by the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Lawal Pedro (SAN).
Pedro told the court that the injunction was to maintain law and order, ensure public safety and prevent loss of lives and property.
Also yesterday, Police Inspector-General Kayode Egbetokun advised two lawyers backing the proposed protest to liaise with the Police Commissioners in charge of state police commands for guidelines on street procession.
The IG gave the admonition to Messrs Femi Falana (SAN) and Ebun Olu-Adegboruwa (SAN) during a meeting.
In Ibadan, Oyo State capital, soldiers, police, Directorate of State Service(DSS) and other security agencies marched through major streets in a joint show of force ahead of tomorrow’s action.
Political leaders, including House of Representatives Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, appealed to the promoters of the protest to have a rethink in the national interest.
Pedro, who shed light on the court injunction, alleged that the organisers planned to shut down Lagos State and sabotage its economy.
The defendants/respondents in the suit instituted by him are Adamma Ukpabi and Tosin Harsogba (for Active Citizens Group); Comrade Juwon Sanyaolu and Hassan Soweto (for Take it Back Movement); Persons unknown and the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State.
Moving the application, Pedro argued that as the Chief Law Officer of Lagos, and being privy to notices by different interests who are for and against the nationwide protest, there is a need to protect the critical infrastructure and prevent a recurrence of the 2020 violent and destructive #EndSARS protest.
The Attorney-General said since the police do not have sufficient manpower to provide security for the protesters in all the local government highways and other public areas, there is a need to restrict them to particular locations.
He argued that it is important to prevent the protest from being hijacked by hoodlums planning to wreak havoc in the guise of protesting against alleged bad governance.
Pedro said: “In recognition of the citizens’ fundamental right to stage a 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.
“An order of the court is required in the circumstances to protect the fundamental rights of first to fifth defendants/respondents to protest and other residents opposed to the protest to go about their lawful engagements without harassment, disturbance and destruction of public buildings/properties.”
Justice Ogundare, who granted the injunction, said: “An order of pre-emptive remedy by way of interim injunction is hereby granted restraining the first to fifth defendants/respondents whether by themselves, their agents, privies, servants or any other person(s) acting through them from converging and carrying out their proposed peaceful public protest, rallies, procession and meetings in Lagos State from the 1st-10th August 2024 except in the approved designated location for peaceful public protest, rallies and meetings, to wit: Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park, Ikorodu Road, Ojota, Lagos State and Peace Park Ketu Lagos from 8 .00 am to 6pm pending compliance with the pre-action protocol by the claimant.
“An order of pre-emptive remedy by way of interim preservative order is hereby granted directing the sixth defendant (CP) to protect the fundamental rights of the first to fifth defendants/respondents to freedom of association, peaceful public protest, procession and tallies in the approved designated location for peaceful public protest, rallies and meetings in Lagos State, to wit: Gani Fawehinm Freedom Park, Ikorodu Road Ojota, Lagos and Peace Park, Ketu Lagos from 8am to 6pm on August 1-10, 2024 pending compliance with the pre-action protocol by the Claimant.”
The court also ordered the police to provide security and traffic management support to the protest organisers at the designated locations.
Security agencies begins show of force in Oyo
Security agencies in Oyo state have begun a show of force as part of efforts to maintain law and order.
The operation involves the deployment of personnel from the police, Army, Immigration Service, and other security agencies to strategic locations across the state.
Commissioner of Police, Ayodele Sonubi, said security agencies will be patrolling major roads and flashpoints in Ibadan and other parts of the state, to prevent violence.
He said the show of force was meant to reassure residents and commuters of their safety and security and to warn potential troublemakers to stay off the streets.
Sonubi said the operation was a proactive measure to prevent any breakdown of law and order during the protest.
He added: “This show of force is meant to show our readiness, keep peace and provide security for the people in the state, to make Nigeria and Ibadan peaceful as it used to be.
“We are ready to protect reasonable and law-abiding citizens. We are not against the protest. which is a right of all citizenry, but will shall not condole any act of violence, brigandage or criminality.”
Agbekoya to protesters: stay away from Southwest
Agbekoya Parapo, a Yoruba socio-cultural and farmers organisation, warned those planning violent protests in Lagos and other Southwest states to desist.
The group accused them of ulterior motives, urging them to retrace their steps.
In a statement after its meeting, the group said the resolution of fundamental questions cannot be resolved by protests.
At the meeting presided by its President-General, Aare Kunle Oshodi, were the Secretary-General, Chief Kunle Eruobodo; Chairman, Elders Council, Prof. Ademola Onibonokuta, Prof. Amusa, Pastor Benson Olayanju, Comrade Adebayo Balogun and Chief Remilekun Oyelami.
Agbekoya Parapo advised those with ulterior motives to “reconsider their plans and move their protests to Abuja and their respective states of origin” rather than pressing their points in the Southwest.
The group said: “We shall never allow what happened in Lagos during #EndSARS to repeat itself.”
Custodial Centres are red zones, NCoS warns
The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) warned that Custodial centres across the country are red zones (no-go areas) for potential trespassers during the protest.
The Service warned that any person or group of persons who have no business whatsoever within and around the centres should steer clear.
A statement by the Public Relations Officer of the Service, Abubakar Umar, said adequate security arrangements have been made to prevent any attempt to invade custodial centres during and after the protests.
The statement reads: “In view of the purported national protest scheduled to hold on the first day of August 2024, the Nigerian Correctional Service wishes to inform the public that the Custodial Centres have been designated as red zones.
“Therefore, any person or group of persons who have no business whatsoever, should steer clear.
“Furthermore, the Service wishes to enjoin the public that Custodial and Non-custodial Centres are critical national assets which are germane to public safety as well as national security.
“Tampering with or attacking them will lead to breakdown of law and order, and further exacerbate the security of the society in general.
“Adequate security arrangements have been put in place to ensure that no correctional facility is defiled.
“The Ministry of Interior Joint Taskforce (MOIJTF) has been activated to provide extra security in and around custodial facilities nationwide.
“The Controller General of Corrections, Haliru Nababa, appreciates the continuous cooperation of members of the public in ensuring peace and tranquillity in and around correctional centres nationwide”.
Nation