SIX #RevolutionNow protestors have been arraigned before the Ebute Metta Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos charged with unlawful assembly and conduct likely to cause a breach of the peace.
Yesterday, security agents and demonstrators were involved in a series of skirmishes across the country as organisers of the #RevolutionNow protest sought to continue their planned marches despite the arrest of their leader Omoyele Sowore on Saturday. In Lagos, Abuja and Osogbo in particular, the police sought to prevent the protesters from gathering but they defied them and held rallies.
On Lagos. the clashes got ugly outside the National Stadium Surulere as there were arrests, the firing of teargas and one person was reported shot in the leg. Early this morning, the police arraigned five people and a lawyer over the Lagos clashes.
Those charged include Ehis Omoshomio, 35; Gabriel Ojumah, 51, Juwon Sanyaolu, 22; Stanley Anobi, 28; Elias Ozikpu, 30 and Kenechukwu Ukachukwu, 25. They were all charged with two counts of unlawful assembly and conduct likely to cause a breach of the peace, to which they pleaded not guilty.
Ibijoke Akinpelu, counsel from the State Criminal Intelligence and Information Department Panti and the resident prosecutor, Inspector Kehinde Omisakin said that the defendants committed the offence on August 5, at 10 am, at the National Stadium, Surulere. Mr Akinpelu alleged that the six defendants assembled at the National Stadium to protest, adding that the gathering was unlawful and caused fear
He added that the offence contravened the provisions of Sections 44 and 168(d) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015. Chief Magistrate AO Komolafe admitted Ojumah, a lawyer, to bail based on self- recognition and the other five defendants at N100, 000 each with two sureties each in like sum before adjourning the case until September 26 for mention.
