A Lagos State High Court sitting in Igbosere, on Tuesday, extended the restrictions given to the #EndBadGovernancelnNigeria protesters in the state to Freedom and Peace Parks in the Ojoto and Ketu areas of the state.
Justice Shefiat I. Sonaike gave the order following an application by the Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Lawal Pedro, for an extension having complied with the pre-action protocols for preemptive remedies ordered last week by another vacation judge, Justice Emmanuel Ogundare.
Representing the AG, Director for Civil Litigations, Mr Hameed Oyenuga, told the court that the earlier court order had been served on all the respondents in compliance with the pre-action protocols for pre-emptive reliefs sought, against the representatives of the protesters.
Oyenuga said it was necessary to extend the earlier restrictions to maintain the relative peace in the state even though the respondents were yet to respond to the application.
In her ruling on Tuesday, Justice Sonaike expressed satisfaction with the AG’s compliance with the orders of Justice Ogundare and order that the restriction of the protests to Freedom and Peace Parks in the Ojota and Ketu areas of the state be extended until full compliance with the reaction orders.
NewsNGR had reported that Justice Ogundare, while ruling on a preemptive exparte application, last week, placed restrictions on protesters across the state.
The application instituted by Mr Pedro was seeking on order, maintaining and securing public safety and prevent irreparable loss of lives and property in the state during the period of the protests, by restricting them to two parks.
The suit had Adamma Ukpabi and Tosin Harsogba (for Active Citizens Group); Comrade Juwon Sanyaolu and Hassan Soweto (for Take It Back Movement); persons unknown; and Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, listed as co-defendants.
While moving his application before the court, Mr. Pedro argued that as the Chief Law Officer of the State and have been privy to notices by different interests who are for and against the nationwide protest, it was necessary to take steps that would ensure the protection of lives and properties across the state, as well as prevent a repeat of the destruction witnessed busing the 2020 EndSars protest.