Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu has ordered the payment of N5 million compensation to an Uber driver, Clement Adedotun, who was assaulted on 20th October 2021, during a rally to mark the one-year anniversary of the #EndSARS protest in the state.
According to a statement on Saturday by Ministry of Justice, the governor said he had “directed the Honorable Attorney General to set up a meeting and pay him the compensation awarded by the court”.
Last 14th March, the court ordered the state government to pay N5 million as compensation to Adedotun who was said to have been tortured on 20th October 2021 at the Lekki Toll-Gate during the first #EndSARS anniversary.
Adedotun’s counsel, Inibehe Effiong, had in a statement on Friday, claimed the Lagos government was rejecting the judgment of the High Court over “lack of evidence for the torture”.
According to his lawyer, Adedotun was carrying a passenger to Lagos Mainland when he encountered a gridlock at the Lekki Toll-Gate during a protest to commemorate the first anniversary of #EndSARS. “He was tortured and pepper-sprayed by officers of the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Agency and policemen”.
In the statement on Saturday, the Public Relations Officer of the Ministry of Justice, Grace Alo said that during the hearing of the matter, the state government opposed the claims of the Applicant on grounds of law and facts.
Alo said: “As is customary when a judgment is delivered against the State Government, the counsel handling the matter is enjoined to file an appeal (a right provided by the Constitution) along with an application to stay execution of the judgment in order to protect and reserve the rights available to the State Government under the law”.
However, Sanwo-Olu said he was committed to upholding the rule of law.
In a statement on his verified Twitter page said, the governor said: “Good evening Lagos, as governor, I’m committed to upholding the rule of law and protecting citizens’ rights with empathy and authority.
“I recently became aware of the case involving Mr Clement Adedotun and the judgement by the Federal High Court, and I understand the impact this 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”.
According to Sanwo-Olu, 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”.
He noted that as a strong advocate for the rule of law, he commended all parties for seeking justice through the appropriate channels, adding that he remained committed to upholding the rights of all Lagosians.
