#EndSARS: Court Slams IGP, Lagos CP With ₦10m Fine Over Protest Clampdown

The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has awarded ₦10 million in damages against the Inspector-General of Police and the Lagos State Commissioner of Police for the violation of the fundamental rights of several citizens who participated in the fourth anniversary of the #EndSARS peaceful memorial procession.

Justice M. Kakaki, who delivered the landmark judgment on Thursday, held that the applicants were unjustly harassed during a lawful and peaceful protest, describing the police action as a breach of their constitutional rights.

The suit was instituted by a group of protesters, including Hassan Taiwo Soweto, Uadiale Kingsley, Ilesanmi Kehinde, Osopale Adeseye, Olamilekan Sanusi, and Miss Osugba Blessing.

Other applicants named in the suit include Kayode Agbaje, Michael Adedeji, Jennifer Rita Obiora, Orunsola Oluremi, Seyi Akinde, Akin Okunowon, Ugochukwu Prince, Aisha Omolara, Thomas Abiodun Olamide, Ogbu Obinna Ferdinald, Aghedo Kehinde Stephen, Duronike Olawale, Isaac Obasi, Funmilayo Jolade Ajayi, Gideon Adeyemi, and Afeez Suleiman.

Civil society groups — the Education Rights Campaign (ERC), Take It Back Movement (TIB), and the Campaign for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) — were also co-applicants in the case.

In her ruling, Justice Kakaki emphasized that the Nigerian Constitution guarantees the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association. She noted that while the police have the constitutional duty to maintain law and order, such powers must be exercised strictly within the bounds of the law.

“The applicants were within their rights to peacefully commemorate the #EndSARS memorial,” the court ruled, stating further that their harassment amounted to a violation of democratic principles.

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Justice Kakaki reiterated that a democratic society must uphold the rule of law and protect the right of citizens to express dissent and assemble peacefully without fear of intimidation.

“Security agencies must understand that peaceful protest is not a threat to national security. Rather, it is a constitutional tool through which citizens engage with governance and demand accountability,” she ruled.

Reacting to the judgment, representatives of the ERC, TIB, and CDHR described the verdict as a win for democracy and a stern warning to security forces that the abuse of power will not go unchallenged.

“We went to court not just for ourselves but for every Nigerian who has ever been brutalised for speaking out,” one of the applicants, Hassan Soweto, said. “This judgment is a victory for justice and human rights.”

The court ordered that the ₦10 million compensation be paid jointly by the Inspector-General of Police and the Lagos State Commissioner of Police to the victims of the unlawful clampdown.