The Lagos High Court has granted an ex parte application filed by the State’s Attorney General, Lawal Pedro (SAN), to restrict the proposed #EndBadGovernance nationwide protests to two designated locations in Lagos: the Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park in Ojota and the Peace Park in Ketu.
Justice Emmanuel Ogundare issued the order as an interim injunction, preventing the organizers from holding protests anywhere else in Lagos from August 1 to 10, 2024. The approved protest hours are from 8 am to 6 pm.
During his submission to the court, Attorney General Pedro emphasized his role as the Chief Law Officer of the State and expressed concerns over the potential for violence and damage to public infrastructure. Drawing parallels to the violent turn of the EndSARS protests in 2020, he argued that the state must take preventive measures to safeguard lives and property.
Pedro also pointed out the limitations of the state police force, stating that they lack the manpower to secure multiple protest sites across all local government councils, public highways, and other areas of public access in Lagos.
He warned that without adequate security, the protests could be hijacked by hoodlums intent on causing chaos and destruction.
