The ruling, delivered by Justice Musa Kakaki on Thursday, found that the police violated the protesters’ fundamental rights when they disrupted a peaceful gathering at the Lekki Tollgate on October 20, 2024. The event was held to mark the fourth anniversary of the #EndSARS protests.
According to the case, officers from the Lagos State Police Command arrested at least 20 participants at the rally and held them inside a police van for several hours. They were later released without any charges.
The lawsuit was filed by 22 protesters and three civil society groups, including Education Rights Campaign, Take It Back Movement, and the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights. The legal action was filed as a fundamental rights enforcement suit.
Some of the individuals who took the matter to court include Hassan Taiwo Soweto, Uadiale Kingsley, Ilesanmi Kehinde, Osopale Adeseye, Olamilekan Sanusi, Osugba Blessing, Kayode Agbaje, Michael Adedeji, Jennifer Rita Obiora, Orunsola Oluremi, Seyi Akinde, Akin Okunowon, Ugochukwu Prince, Aisha Omolara, Thomas Abiodun Olamide, Ogbu Obinna Ferdinald, Aghedo Kehinde Stephen, Duroonike Olawale, Isaac Obasi, Funmilayo Jolade Ajayi, and Afeez Suleiman.
The respondents listed in the case were the Inspector-General of Police, the Nigeria Police Force, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, the Chairman of the Lagos State Task Force, the Governor of Lagos State, and the Lagos State Attorney-General.
The applicants said they were targeted for peacefully exercising their constitutional rights to free expression and peaceful assembly, and asked the court to hold the authorities accountable for what they described as unlawful actions.
In his ruling, Justice Musa Kakaki held that the police acted unlawfully during the #EndSARS memorial event, stressing that the protesters’ rights were violated during the rally.
KanyiDaily recalls that Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, reportedly compensated EndSARS victims with N100 million after initially denying the Lekki Tollgate Massacre.
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