By Attah Ede
The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, has ordered the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) and the Lagos State Commissioner of Police to jointly pay the sum of N10 million in damages for the violation of the fundamental rights of several peaceful protesters.
Justice M. Kakaki while delivering judgement on Thursday, held that although the police have constitutional powers to enforce laws, those powers must be exercised in accordance with democratic principles and the rule of law.
Kakaki further held that the applicants, who participated in a peaceful protest on 20 October 2024, during the fourth anniversary of the #ENDSARS peaceful memorial procession, were unjustly harassed and their rights infringed upon.
“The applicants were entitled to the constitutional right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association, as guaranteed under Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended)”, he ruled.
The applicants in the suit includes; Hassan Taiwo Soweto, Uadiale Kingsley, Ilesanmi Kehinde, Osopale Adeseye, Olamilekan Sanusi, Miss Osugba Blessing, Kayode Agbaje, Michael Adedeji, Jennifer Rita Obiora and Orunsola Oluremi, Seyi Akinde, Akin Okunowon, Ugochukwu Prince, Aisha Omolara, Thomas Abiodun Olamide.
Others are; Ogbu Obinna Ferdinald, Aghedo Kehinde Stephen, Duronike Olawale, Isaac Obasi, Funmilayo Jolade Ajayi, Gideon Adeyemi, and Afeez Suleiman.
The rest are three organisations—Education Rights Campaign (ERC), Take It Back Movement (TIB), and Campaign for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR).
Details later….
