The Lagos State government has secured a court order restricting protesters to the Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park in Ojota and Peace Park, Ketu.
The Lagos High Court Judge, Emmanuel Ogundare, presiding over an ex parte case brought by the state's attorney general, Lawal Pedro, approved the restriction order on Tuesday.
Pedro emphasized the protection of state infrastructure and the prevention of deaths during the planned ‘End Bad Governance’ protest.
Pedro told the court that the state police lacked sufficient manpower to provide security support to protesters who planned to protest in local government councils, public highways, and other public access areas.
“In recognition of citizens’ fundamental right to stage public protests against government policies and actions but prevent unlawful destruction of lives and properties in the process, the Lagos State government has designated two public spaces and locations in the state where citizens can meet and converge to protest or express their displeasure against the government,” Pedro said.
“The locations are Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park, Ojota, Lagos State, and Peace Park, Ketu, Lagos State.”
Aerial view of Freedom and Peace Parks
The Attorney General asserted that a ten-day public protest in local government councils, highways, and public access areas would shut down the state and potentially lead to economic sabotage.
The judge, Ogundare granted all the reliefs sought by Pedro. He also ruled that the protest, scheduled for August 1 to 10, should be held between "8 am and 6 pm, pending compliance with the pre-action protocol by the claimant," and within the designated areas.
