A Lagos High Court sitting in Igbosere has extended an earlier order restricting protests in Lagos to Freedom and Peace Parks in the Ojota and Ketu areas of the state.
Justice S.I. Sonaike granted the extension following an application by the Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Lawal Pedro, SAN. The Attorney-General complied with pre-action protocols for preemptive remedies ordered last week by another judge, Justice Emmanuel Ogundare.
Represented by the Director for Civil Litigations, Mr. Hameed Oyenuga, Pedro told the court on Tuesday that the earlier court order had been served on all respondents. Despite the lack of response from the respondents, Pedro argued for the need to extend the restriction to maintain the relative peace in the state amid ongoing nationwide protests.
In her ruling, Justice Sonaike noted satisfaction with the Attorney-General’s compliance and ordered the extension of the restriction until full compliance with pre-action orders is achieved.
Justice Ogundare initially placed the restrictions last week while ruling on an ex-parte application filed by Pedro. This was aimed at securing public safety and preventing irreparable loss of lives and property during the protests.
The co-defendants in the application include Adamma Ukpabi and Tosin Harsogba (for Active Citizens Group), Comrade Juwon Sanyaolu and Hassan Soweto (for Take It Back Movement), unknown persons, and the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State.
Pedro, emphasizing his duty as the Chief Law Officer of the State, highlighted the necessity to protect critical infrastructure and prevent loss of lives and property, recalling the events of the EndSARS protests in 2020.
