BREAKING: Lagos Court Issues Restraining Order on Hunger Protests

A Lagos High Court has issued an order limiting the movement of organizers and participants of a planned hunger protest in Lagos.

The protest, set to begin on August 1, 2024, is aimed at opposing the policies and programs of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

Presided over by Justice Emmanuel Ogundare, the court ruled that organizers must remain in confined locations during the protest, and participants must converge and stay within designated areas: Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park in Ojota and Peace Park in Ketu.

The ruling followed a preemptive application by Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Lawal Pedro. Pedro sought the order to ensure public safety and prevent potential loss of lives and property.

Co-defendants listed in the application include Adamma Ukpabi and Tosin Harsogba (Active Citizens Group); Juwon Sanyaolu and Hassan Soweto (Take It Back Movement); unknown persons; and the Lagos State Commissioner of Police.

Pedro argued that, as the Chief Law Officer of the state, he was aware of notices by various groups both supporting and opposing the nationwide protest. He emphasized the need to protect critical infrastructure and prevent the loss of lives and property, citing the violent outcomes of the EndSARS protests in 2020.

Pedro stated that the state police lack sufficient manpower to provide security for protests planned across all local government councils, public highways, and other areas of public access. He expressed concerns about potential hijacking of the protest by hoodlums intent on causing destruction under the guise of protesting against alleged bad governance.

“In recognition of the citizens’ fundamental right to protest against government policies, while preventing unlawful destruction of lives and properties, the Lagos State Government has designated two public spaces for protests: Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park in Ojota and Peace Park in Ketu,” Pedro said.

He argued that protests across all local government areas and public highways for 10 days would shut down the state and amount to economic sabotage.

Justice Ogundare, after considering Pedro’s arguments, granted all the reliefs sought. He issued an interim injunction restraining the defendants from carrying out their planned protests except at the approved locations from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. from August 1 to 10, 2024.

The court also ordered the Lagos State Commissioner of Police to protect the protesters’ rights to peaceful assembly and provide security and traffic management support at the designated locations. Additionally, the court approved substituted service of its order and related documents via newspaper publication.