A Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered the Federal Government to pay the sum of N1 million for disrupting the protest – Revolution Now – organised by the publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore.
The protest scheduled to hold on August 5, 2019 was disrupted at the starting point by security agencies in Lagos.
Describing the disruption as illegal and undemocratic, the judge, Maureen Onyetenu, added that it was wrong to have maltreated and arrested the protesters.
The order of the court followed a suit filed by one of the protesters, Olukoya Ogungbeje.
Ogungbeje who is a lawyer said he was along with others tear-gassed by security agents.
According to him, the action of the security agents violated sections 38, 39 and 40 of the 1999 constitution, which guaranteed the right to peaceful assembly and association.
He therefore asked the court to award the cost of N500 million should against the Federal Government.
He explained his case: “I met agents and operatives of the respondents who had barricaded the venue of the peaceful protest for good governance in Nigeria…
“I was tear-gassed by agents of the respondents and the peaceful protest was forcefully disrupted by the respondents.
“I have been denied my fundamental constitutional rights of peaceful assembly and association by the respondents, without cause.”
