“Lagosians are back to the regime of real Governor Sanwo-Olu that they know, and not the pretentious one who tried to project himself as a populist or respecter of human rights during the campaigns.” – Inibehe Effiong
Having secured another four-year tenure after begging Lagosians to give him another chance at governance, Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has appealed the 14 March 2023 Federal High Court judgment which ordered a 5 Million naira compensation to Adedotun Clement, an Uber driver that was brutally tortured during the first #EndSARS anniversary on 20 October 2021 at the Lekki Toll-Gate.
Recall that the governor had consistently denied complicity with the deadly military intervention at Lekki Toll Gate during the 20 October 2020 #EndSARS protest.
This is even as the Commander of 81 Military Intelligence Brigade, Victoria Island, Lagos, Brig. Gen. Ahmed Taiwo said the military was not happy that the governor denied inviting soldiers.
The army commander who appeared before the Lagos judicial panel alleged that Sanwo-Olu called on the military for support on October 20, after the #EndSARS crisis degenerated into chaos.
But still maintaining his guiltlessness during electioneering campaigns when he appeared on Arise News Channels, the governor who said he had no control of the military and police in Lagos, even though he was the chief security officer of the state added that he was pained as a leader and father to see youths brought down by bullets.
The governor equally promised to continue working closely with the youths and empower them to achieve their dreams if re-elected.
Interestingly, less than a week after his reelection, Lagos State government filed the appeal to challenge the N5 Million compensation, Clement
Clement 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 Neighborhood Safety Agency and policemen.
The attack on the Uber driver was captured on video and reported by television stations and newspapers and attracted nationwide condemnation.
On account of this, a rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, filed a lawsuit against the State Government and the Nigeria Police to seek redress.
Notwithstanding a 16 March 2023 letter to Governor Sanwo-Olu, wherein Effiong demanded compliance with the judgment, the Lagos State Government in a Notice of Appeal filed on Tuesday, March 21, 2023, said there was no evidence that the Uber driver was tortured.
In his response, Effiong said: “I’m not surprised by their decision not to obey a judgment that everyone knows is justifiable. Since they’ve chosen this infamous path, I will equally file a cross-appeal against the N5 Million damages and ask the Court of Appeal to increase it significantly.
“The message derivable from this action is that Lagosians are back to the regime of real Governor Sanwo-Olu that they know, and not the pretentious one who tried to project himself as a populist or respecter of human rights during the campaigns.”
