THE Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered the Inspector-General of Police and the Lagos State Commissioner of Police to jointly pay ₦10 million in damages to a group of #EndSARS protesters over the violation of their fundamental human rights.
News Point Nigeria reports that Justice Musa Kakaki, who delivered the ruling, found that the applicants were unlawfully harassed during the October 20, 2024, fourth #EndSARS memorial rally, held to commemorate victims of police brutality and the 2020 Lekki Toll Gate shooting.
In his judgment, the judge emphasized that while law enforcement officers have constitutional duties to maintain public order, such powers must be exercised within the framework of the law and democracy.
“The conduct of the police toward the protesters was unlawful and violated their constitutional rights to freedom of expression, assembly, and dignity of the human person,” Justice Kakaki ruled.
The case was brought before the court by Hassan Taiwo Soweto, Uadiale Kingsley, Ilesanmi Kehinde, Osopale Adeseye, Olamilekan Sanusi, and Miss Osugba Blessing.
Also listed as applicants were prominent civil society groups: the Education Rights Campaign (ERC), the Take It Back Movement (TIB), and the Campaign for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR).
The applicants contended that they were peacefully exercising their rights when they were violently dispersed, intimidated, and detained by police officers without legal basis.
Legal experts and activists have hailed the ruling as a significant step toward holding security agencies accountable and reaffirming the rights of Nigerians to peaceful protest and assembly.
Neither the Nigeria Police Force nor the Lagos State Police Command has issued an official response to the ruling at the time of this report.
