The Lagos State Government and the Nigeria Police has been ordered by Federal High Court sitting in Lagos on Tuesday, March 14, 2023 to pay the sum of N5million as compensation to Adedotun Clement, an Uber driver who was publicly attacked, assaulted and humiliated by officials of the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Agency and the Nigeria Police Force during the first anniversary of EndSARS in 2021.
It was gathered that during the first anniversary of the EndSARS protest on 20th October, 2021, Clement was carrying a passenger from the Island to the Mainland part of Lagos, when he encountered the protest at the Lekki Toll Gate which was disrupted by officials of Lagos State and the police.
The court condemned the torture of Clement by officials of the Lagos State Government and the Nigeria Police Force.
As maintained by Sahara Reporters, the applicant’s counsel, Inibehe 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 has compensated victims connected with the EndSARS, and to reassure Lagosians that he believed in human rights.
It would be recalled that the Lagos State Neighborhood Safety Agency fired tear-gas canisters to disperse the peaceful protesters and arrested many protesters, Clement temporarily abandoned his car like other motorists and ran for his life.
However, when he returned to pick his car, he was accosted, dragged, tortured and manhandled by the officers who refused to heed his entreaties that he was an Uber driver and only wanted to retrieve his car.
The assault was captured on video and reported in the media.
In their attempt to forcefully put him inside the vehicle of the Lagos State Taskforce otherwise called Black Maria, the officials of the Lagos State Government amin connivance with the police officers also used pepper-spray on Clement who cried for help.
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, Attorney General of Lagos and the Nigeria Police.
Delivering judgment in the fundamental rights case with Suit Number: FHC/CS/1862/2021, the presiding judge, Hon. Justice A. L. Allagoa, found that the treatment meted on the applicant amounted to a violation of his right to dignity and awarded the sum of N5 million as damages.
