A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos State has ordered the Lagos State Government and the Nigeria Police (NPF) to pay an Uber driver, identified as Adedotun Clement, the sum of N5 million as compensation for the alleged attack, assault, and humiliation he suffered from the officials of the Lagos State Neighborhood Safety Agency and the Nigeria Police Force during the first anniversary of the #EndSARS protests on October 20, 2021, at the Lekki Toll-Gate when he was carrying a passenger from the Island to the Mainland and was intercepted by the officials.
According to media reports, Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa of the Federal High Court issued the order on Tuesday, March 14, 2023, adding that the treatment meted on the driver is a violation of his right to dignity.
Recall that following the pandemonium that ensued after policemen and the officers of the Lagos State Neighborhood Safety Agency fired tear-gas canisters to disperse the peaceful protesters and arrested many of them, Clement temporarily abandoned his car and later returned to pick up his car.
He was then accosted and allegedly dragged, tortured, and manhandled by the officers who refused to listen to his pleas that he was an Uber driver and only wanted to retrieve his car, as captured on video, which went viral on social media and mainstream media houses.
Following public condemnation that trailed the viral incident, Lagos-based human rights lawyer and activist, Mr Inibehe Effiong, took up the case and sued the Lagos State Government, the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Agency, the Attorney General of Lagos, and the Nigeria Police Force.
Delivering judgment in the fundamental rights case with Suit Number: FHC/CS/1862/2021, the court condemned the torture of Clement by officials of the Lagos State Government and the Nigeria Police Force.
The applicant’s counsel, Effiong, in his reaction to the judgment, expressed appreciation to the court for upholding the rights of his client.
Effiong also called on the Lagos State Governor, Mr Babjide Sanwo-Olu, to comply with the judgment and pay the compensation in line with his public declaration that he had compensated victims connected with the #EndSARS and to reassure Lagosians that he believes in human rights.
VANGUARD
