Lagos Court Grants Bail to Leaders of Protest Against Demolitions

A magistrate's court located in Yaba, Lagos State, has granted bail to Taiwo Hassan, also referred to as Soweto, and Dele Frank, who are leaders of a protest that occurred on Wednesday against demolitions at the Lagos State House of Assembly in Alausa.

During a ruling made on Thursday, Magistrate A.I.O. Alaka set bail at N200,000 for each defendant, requiring two responsible sureties for both.

The court released the two men into the custody of their attorney, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Femi Falana, until the bail conditions are formally arranged.

Falana argued that the charges leveled against the defendants were unlawful and infringed upon Sections 39 and 40 of the Nigerian Constitution, which assure the rights to freedom of expression and assembly.

He informed the court that his clients had been held since the demonstration, barred from external communication, and had suffered injuries during arrest. Evidence presented by the attorney suggested that the protest was non-violent.

Representing the Lagos State police, Anthony Ihiehie cautioned that allowing the defendants bail could lead to further disruption of government functions and requested that the conditions reflect the serious nature of the accusations.

The charges against the defendants include five counts such as conspiracy to commit a felony, public threat, creating a disturbance, traffic obstruction, and singing disparaging songs about law enforcement personnel and the Lagos State Government.

According to police statements, these alleged offenses took place along Allen Avenue, Alausa, during a protest organized by residents who sought to express their concerns regarding demolitions in their communities.

The police further accused the defendants of utilizing a vehicle equipped with loudspeakers to block public roads and of acting in a way that could incite disorder, citing Sections 411, 56, and 57 of the Lagos State Criminal Laws of 2015.

Both defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges, and the case is scheduled to continue on March 3 for further hearings.

The protest was a reaction to forced evacuations in waterfront areas including Makoko, Owode-Onirin, Oworonshoki, and Ajegunle. Civil rights organizations, such as the #EndBadGovernance Movement (Lagos Chapter) and Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), stood in solidarity with the locals during this protest.

Reports indicate protesters marched peacefully from Ikeja Underbridge to the Lagos State Assembly, carrying signs that read “Save Our Souls” and “Stop the Killings, Stop Demolition of Our Homes.”

However, the Lagos State Police described the demonstration as disruptive. Abimbola Adebisi, the police PRO, claimed on X that protesters obstructed Awolowo Way for six hours, used loudspeakers to intimidate passers-by, carried a coffin, and sat on the road, preventing motorists from reaching their destinations.

The police report stated that minimal force was required to disperse the demonstration and that no injuries were reported.

This account has been challenged by civil rights observers, journalists, and medical personnel, with CAPPA asserting that police intentionally targeted demonstrators and arrested journalists, deploying tear gas against unarmed citizens.

A number of protesters and journalists, including Oluwaferanmi Oladipupo from Daily Family and medical practitioner Jennifer Rita Obiora, reported injuries. Furthermore, personal belongings and work tools were allegedly confiscated.

Eyewitnesses reported that Police Commissioner Moshood Jimoh was seen conferring with lawmakers prior to the police action. Reports suggest that senior police officials specifically targeted Soweto for arrest while he addressed the seated protesters.

CAPPA and other organizations condemned the police's actions as excessive and unconstitutional.

A statement released by Zikora Ibeh, CAPPA’s Assistant Executive Director, on behalf of Soweto recounted his experience of being forcibly taken into the assembly complex, assaulted by police, blindfolded, and subsequently taken to Ogba Magistrate Court for a brief arraignment before being returned to Panti Police Station.

Soweto alleged that there were attempts to coerce him into seeking medical care and providing statements without consent, in addition to the confiscation of his personal belongings.

The Lagos State Government has defended the demolitions. Commissioner for Information and Strategy Gbenga Omotoso cited safety threats from buildings located near waterways and under high-voltage power lines.

Civil groups argued that these demolitions disproportionately impact impoverished and working-class communities, often occurring with little to no consultation, compensation, or resettlement.

The #EndBadGovernance Movement characterized the events of Wednesday as a “horrific encounter,” calling for a cease to forced evictions and urging lawful discussions with the impacted communities.

CAPPA and supporting groups have demanded the immediate release of the detained protesters, the return of seized personal items, the suspension of the Police Commissioner, and a halt to ongoing demolition activities.