The court presided over by Justice Emmanuel Ogundare gave the restriction on Tuesday following a preemptive exparte application filed by the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Lawal Pedro (SAN), seeking to maintain and secure public safety and prevent irreparable loss of lives and property in the state during the period of the protests.
While moving his application, Mr. Lawal Pedro (SAN), told the court that there is a need to protect the critical infrastructures of the state and prevent an irreparable loss of lives and property as witnessed during the EndSARS protest in 2020 in the impending nationwide protest.
Pedro further told the court that there is a need to prevent the protest from being hijacked by hoodlums who are prepared to breach law and order and cause destruction in different locations in the State under the pretext of public protest against alleged bad governance.
“In recognition of the citizens’ fundamental right to stage a public protest 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 government. The locations are Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park, Ojota, Lagos State and Peace Park, Ketu, Lagos State.
“Public protest in all the local government councils and public highways as well as other areas of public access in the State for 10 days is a deliberate plan to shut down the State and if this is allowed it will amount to economic sabotage.
“An order of the court is required in the circumstances so as to protect the fundamental rights of 1st to 5th Defendants/Respondents to protest and other residents opposed to the protest to go about their lawful without harassment, disturbance and destruction of public buildings/properties.”
Justice Ogundare granted all the reliefs sought in the application after listening to his argument.
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