Sanwo-Olu Intervenes In LASG/Uber Driver’s Matter

…Orders State Attorney General To Comply With Court Ruling Of N5 Million Compensation

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has intervened in the matter involving the state government and an Uber Driver, Mr. Clement Adedotun.

Sanwo-Olu said in his reaction to the matter that as Governor, he’s committed to upholding the rule of law and protecting citizens’ rights with empathy and authority.

The Governor said in the statement, which went viral on the social media, that he recently became aware of the case involving Mr. Clement Adedotun and the judgement by the Federal High Court, adding that he understands the impact the legal battle has had on him.

“After reviewing Mr. Clement’s case, I’ve directed the Honorable Attorney General to set up a meeting and pay him the compensation awarded by the Court.

“Although the State Government has appealed the ruling, I’ve interceded in this instance in the interest of the public good, and requested that the State’s Attorney General comply with the court’s ruling.

“As a strong advocate for the rule of law, I commend all parties for seeking justice through the appropriate channels, and I remain committed to upholding the rights of all Lagosians,” he said.

A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos had ordered the Lagos State government and Nigeria Police to pay N5 million as compensation to Adedotun Clement, who was publicly attacked, assaulted and humiliated by officials of the State Neighbourhood Safety Agency and the Nigeria Police Force during the first anniversary of #EndSARS protest in 2021.

During the first anniversary of #EndSARS protest on October 20, 2021, Mr. Clement was carrying a passenger from the Island to the Mainland, when he encountered the protest at the Lekki Toll Gate, which was disrupted by Lagos State officials and the police.

Following the pandemonium that ensued after policemen and officers of the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Agency fired tear-gas canisters to disperse the peaceful protesters and arrested others, 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 by the media.

In their attempt to forcefully put him inside the vehicle of the Lagos State Task force, otherwise called Black Maria, the Lagos State officials in connivance with the police 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 Lagos State Government, the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Agency, Attorney General of Lagos and Nigeria Police.

Delivering judgment in the fundamental rights case marked: FHC/CS/1862/2021, 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.

The court condemned the torture of Clement by Lagos State Government officials and the police.