A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has ordered the Inspector-General of Police and the Lagos State Commissioner of Police to pay ₦10 million in damages for violating the rights of peaceful protesters during the fourth anniversary of the #EndSARS movement.
The judgment was delivered on Thursday by Justice M. Kakaki, who ruled that the protesters were unjustly harassed and their fundamental rights were breached.
The suit was filed by several activists who participated in the October 2023 memorial procession marking four years since the #EndSARS protests against police brutality. The applicants include Hassan Taiwo Soweto, Uadiale Kingsley, Ilesanmi Kehinde, Osopale Adeseye, and over a dozen others, along with groups like the Education Rights Campaign (ERC), Take It Back Movement (TIB), and Campaign for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR).
The judge emphasized that while the police have the legal authority to maintain order, their actions must comply with the Constitution and respect citizens’ rights.
Justice Kakaki ruled that the right to peaceful assembly and association is guaranteed under the Nigerian Constitution and should not be violated by law enforcement.
The case highlights ongoing concerns about police conduct during public gatherings, especially since the 2020 #EndSARS protests, which sparked nationwide and international attention to police abuse in Nigeria.
