One of the groups organizing the planned nationwide protests, the Take It Back Movement, has labelled the judgment by the Lagos State Government as a misuse of judicial authority to suppress citizens’ right to assemble.
On Tuesday, a Lagos State High Court limited protesters involved in the nationwide protest to specific locations within the state.
Justice Emmanuel Ogundare, while ruling on an ex parte application filed by the Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Lawal Pedro, (SAN), decreed that protests could only be held at Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park in Ojota and Peace Park in Ketu.
However, in a statement on Wednesday, the Lagos Coordinator of the Take It Back Movement, Adekunle Taofeek, stated that the state government should cover the expenses for transporting protesters from various designated areas in the state to the court-mandated locations.
He said, “We frown at this abuse of judicial privilege to stifle freedom of association. The movement, at an emergency meeting, wishes to inform you that since this was your administration’s decision, you must bear responsibility for the movement of protesters from several destinations in Lagos to and from Peace Park in Ketu and Gani Fawehinmi Justice Park in Ojota in Lagos.”
Taofeek mentioned that some of the designated gathering points for participants include the Alausa Secretariat, Lekki Toll Gates, Ikorodu Bus Park, Okota Link Bridge, LASU Campus gates, Iyana Ipaja Underbridge, and Agege Pen Cinema.
“You will soon be informed of other designated convergence points for protesters,” he added.
Taofeek emphasized that the buses need to reach the specified locations by 6 am and head back by 6 pm to transport the protesters to their respective destinations.
He said, “The buses to be provided must be clean, safe and air-conditioned. The buses must arrive at these designated areas as early as 6 am and return protesters to their convergence points at 6 pm every night from August 1 to 10, 2024.
“The protest days may drag beyond 10 days, so the Lagos State Government is advised to make contingency plans for the dusting of these actions.”
Taofeek warned that failure to make the buses available, the protesters would march to the court and designated parks in the city daily.
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He said, “Your failure to provide buses for the protesters means they (protesters) would begin march/walk to the court designated parks in the city on a daily basis for the duration of the #EndBadGovernance direct actions.”
Taofeek, therefore, told the Lagos State Government that there would be rallies and processions during the protest.
He said, “Finally, be informed that there will be rallies and processions throughout the #EndbadGovernance actions, so your bus operators are advised to find and park a safe distance from the areas designated by protesters for these activities.”
The PUNCH
