At the fourth anniversary of the #EndSARS memorial, the Inspector-General of Police and the Lagos State Commissioner of Police were sanctioned by the Federal High Court in Lagos with ₦10 million in damages for violating the fundamental rights of peaceful demonstrators.
The applicants were unfairly harassed by law enforcement officials for taking part in a peaceful procession that was protected by the constitution, according to Justice M. Kakaki, who delivered the decision on Thursday.
The police actions during the October 2023 memorial were contested in the lawsuit, which was filed by Hassan Taiwo Soweto, Uadiale Kingsley, Ilesanmi Kehinde, Osopale Adeseye, Olamilekan Sanusi, Osugba Blessing, and a number of other people.
According to Justice Kakaki, the demonstrators’ rights to freedom of expression, assembly, and association under the 1999 Constitution were violated when they were subjected to coercion and physical force.
The court declared, “The police have constitutional authority to enforce the law, but that authority must be used in a way that respects democratic values and the rule of law.”
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In addition, Kayode Agbaje, Michael Adedeji, Jennifer Rita Obiora, Orunsola Oluremi, Seyi Akinde, Akin Okunowon, Ugochukwu Prince, Aisha Omolara, Thomas Abiodun Olamide, Ogbu Obinna Ferdinald, Aghedo Kehinde Stephen, Duronike Olawale, Isaac Obasi, Funmilayo Jolade Ajayi, Gideon Adeyemi, and Afeez Suleiman were listed as applicants in the fundamental rights suit.
Three organizations also co-applied: the Campaign for the Defense of Human Rights (CDHR), the Take It Back Movement (TIB), and the Education Rights Campaign (ERC).
With the IGP and Lagos CP held jointly accountable for the “unwarranted crackdown on citizens engaging in peaceful remembrance,” Justice Kakaki granted the applicants ₦10 million in general damages.
Reiterating the demonstrators’ right to peacefully gather without police intervention, the court cautioned that the practice of stifling dissent under the pretense of security needs to end.
