On Tuesday, Justice Sherifat Sonaike of the Lagos State High Court granted an extension to a previous order restricting protests in Lagos to specific designated areas, namely the Freedom and Peace Parks in Ojota and Ketu.
The extension was granted following an application by the Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Lawal Pedro, SAN, represented by Director for Civil Litigations, Mr. Hameed Oyenuga.
Mr. Oyenuga informed the court that the earlier order had been duly served on all respondents in accordance with pre-action protocols.
He further argued that, notwithstanding the respondents’ failure to respond, an extension of the order is necessary to preserve the relative peace currently enjoyed in the state, particularly in light of the ongoing nationwide protests.
In her ruling, Justice Sonaike noted that she is satisfied with the AG’s compliance with the orders of Justice Ogundare and order that the restriction of the protests to Freedom and Peace Parks in the Ojota and Ketu areas of the state be extended until full compliance to the pre-action orders.
“Pre-emptive relief, earlier granted, is hereby extended.
“The lifespan of the intended order is hereby extended until there is full compliance with the protocol. Return date shall be 29th of August 2024”, Justice Sonaike said.
Justice Ogundare had last week while ruling on a preemptive exparte application filed by Mr 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, and placed restrictions on the protesters.
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.
While moving his application before the court, Mr Pedro had argued that as the Chief Law Officer of the State and have been privy to notices by different interests who are for and against the nationwide protest, there is the need to protect the critical infrastructures of the state and prevent an irreparable loss of lives and property as witnessed during the EndSARS protest in 2020.
