A Lagos High Court has restricted the upcoming hunger protests to specific locations, citing concerns for public safety. Justice Emmanuel Ogundare ruled that the demonstrations scheduled from August 1 to August 10 must take place only at Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park in Ojota and Peace Park in Ketu. This decision follows a preemptive ex-parte application by the state’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Lawal Pedro, SAN.
Pedro argued that the restriction is necessary to secure public safety and prevent the irreparable loss of lives and property, referencing the violence witnessed during the 2020 #EndSARS protests. He maintained that the police lack sufficient manpower to manage security for protests across the state’s numerous local government areas and public highways.
“The state must protect its critical infrastructure and prevent hoodlums from hijacking the protests under the pretext of public dissent,” Pedro asserted. The court’s decision aims to balance the fundamental rights of citizens to protest with the need to maintain public order and safety.
Justice Ogundare granted all the reliefs sought in the application, emphasizing that the restriction to designated parks would help maintain order during the protest period. The court’s ruling highlights the need to prevent any escalation of violence that could result from unrestricted protests across Lagos.
Security Alerts and Government Response
In response to the planned protests, several foreign governments, including the US, UK, and Canada, have issued security alerts for their nationals in Nigeria. They advised caution and recommended avoiding protest areas due to the potential for violence and unrest.
Justice Ogundare’s ruling mandates that protesters confine their activities to the designated parks from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily during the protest period. The court also ordered the Commissioner of Police to ensure the safety of both the protesters and the general public. This includes providing security and traffic management support at the approved protest locations.
Pedro emphasized the state government’s recognition of the right to peaceful protest but underscored the importance of preventing economic sabotage. “Allowing protests across all local government areas and highways would effectively shut down the state, leading to significant economic disruptions,” he said.
The Lagos State Government, in its effort to manage the protests effectively, designated Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park and Peace Park as the only permissible venues for the demonstrations. These locations were chosen to allow for effective monitoring and control by law enforcement agencies, thereby minimizing the risk of violence and destruction.
Legal and Community Reactions
The court’s decision has been met with mixed reactions. Some community leaders and residents support the move, citing the need to avoid a repeat of the violent incidents from previous protests. However, activists and protest organizers have expressed concerns about the restriction’s impact on their ability to voice dissent effectively.
The designated protest leaders, including representatives from the Active Citizens Group and the Take It Back Movement, are expected to comply with the court’s ruling. The order includes provisions for substituted service, meaning that notices about the court’s decision will be published in widely-read newspapers to ensure all relevant parties are informed.
In his ruling, Justice Ogundare stated, “An order of pre-emptive remedy by way of interim injunction is hereby granted, restraining the 1st to 5th Defendants/Respondents from converging and carrying out their proposed peaceful public protest, rallies, procession, and meetings in Lagos State from August 1 to August 10, 2024, except in the approved designated locations.”
The court further instructed the police to provide the necessary support to facilitate peaceful protests within the restricted zones. This includes managing traffic and ensuring that protesters’ rights are upheld while maintaining public order.
Source: Vanguard
