A Lagos High Court, presided over by Justice S.I. Sonaike, has extended a previous order limiting protests in Lagos to designated areas, specifically Freedom and Peace Parks in Ojota and Ketu.
News About Nigeria reports that this decision was made in response to an application by the Lagos State Attorney-General, Mr. Lawal Pedro, who sought to prolong the restrictions.
Pedro’s application was based on compliance with pre-action protocols for preemptive remedies, as ordered by Justice Emmanuel Ogundare.
Represented by Mr. Hameed Oyenuga, Pedro informed the court that all respondents had been served with the initial court order, in line with the required pre-action protocols.
Despite the respondents’ lack of response, Pedro said that extending the restriction order was necessary to maintain peace in the state, particularly in light of ongoing protests nationwide.
Justice Sonaike, satisfied with the Attorney-General’s compliance, extended the restriction order, limiting protests to the designated venues until full compliance with pre-action orders is achieved.
This ruling follows an earlier decision by Justice Ogundare, who placed restrictions on protesters in response to a preemptive application filed by Pedro.
The application, which listed several individuals and groups as co-defendants, sought to maintain public safety and prevent the loss of lives and property during the protests.
Pedro explained that, as the Chief Law Officer of the State, he had a duty to protect critical infrastructure and prevent a repeat of the destruction witnessed during the 2020 EndSARS protests.
The court’s decision to extend the restriction order reflects the state’s efforts to balance the right to protest with the need to maintain public safety and prevent potential chaos.
