Lagos Court Designates Freedom and Peace Parks for Protests

A Lagos High Court has ruled that protesters taking part in the proposed nationwide protest from August 1 to August 10 must confine their activities to the Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park in Ojota and Peace Park in Ketu.

The restriction was issued by Justice Emmanuel Ogundare in response to a preemptive ex parte application filed by the State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Lawal Pedro, SAN. The aim is to maintain public safety and prevent potential loss of lives and property during the protest period.

The application listed Adamma Ukpabi, Tosin Harsogba (representing Active Citizens Group), Comrade Juwon Sanyaolu, Hassan Soweto (representing Take It Back Movement), unknown persons, and the Lagos State Commissioner of Police as co-defendants.

Arguing the application, Mr. Pedro emphasized the necessity of safeguarding critical infrastructure and averting irreparable damage similar to what was witnessed during the EndSARS protests in 2020. He stressed that the police force lacks sufficient manpower to ensure security for protests spanning all local government councils, public highways, and other public areas in the state.

Pedro further argued that the protest could be hijacked by hoodlums aiming to disrupt law and order under the guise of demonstrating against perceived bad governance. To counter this, he highlighted that the Lagos State Government has designated two specific locations—Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park in Ojota and Peace Park in Ketu—where citizens can legally gather to express their grievances.

In his ruling, Justice Ogundare granted all the reliefs sought by the application. He issued an interim injunction restricting the 1st to 5th defendants and their associates from conducting protests, rallies, processions, or meetings outside the designated parks from August 1 to 10. The court also directed the 6th defendant, the Commissioner of Police, to ensure the safety and security of protesters at these locations and to manage traffic effectively during the protest period.

The court further ordered that the ruling and associated documents be served to the defendants via publication in a widely read national newspaper, which will be considered sufficient notice.

This decision aims to balance the right to protest with the need to maintain public order and safety in Lagos during the protest period.