Lagos Govt appeals court judgement awarding N5m in compensation to brutalised Uber driver (+Video)

Lagos Government has appealed the judgement of a High Court in the state which awarded the sum of N5 million in damages to a commercial driver attached to a transport company, Uber, Mr. Clement Adedotun, who was brutalised by police officers attached to the state command and officials of the State Neighborhood Safety Agency (LNSA).

It would be recalled that Adedotun was conveying a passenger to Lagos Mainland when he encountered a traffic jam at the Lekki Toll-Gate during a protest to commemorate the first anniversary of EndSARS on October 20, 2021 in Lagos.

He was reportedly arrested, beaten up and pepper-sprayed by officers of the Lagos State Neighborhood Safety Agency along with policemen attached to the State Command.

The attack on the Uber driver was captured in a viral video and reported by television stations and newspapers, and attracted a nationwide condemnation.

Human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, subsequently filed a lawsuit on behalf of Adedotun against the Lagos Government and the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) seeking redress in court.

In its ruling, a Federal High Court siting in Lagos on March 14, 2023 ordered the State Government to pay the sum of N5 million as damage costs to Adedotun.

Following the judgment, Adedotun’s lawyer, Inibehe wrote a letter to state Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on March 16, 2023 demanding compliance with the judgment. But on receiving the letter, the state governor refused to act on the demand.

However, in a Notice of Appeal filed on Tuesday, March 21, 2023, but served on Thursday, March 23, signed by Dr. Babajide Martins, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in the Lagos State Ministry of Justice, the government insisted that there was no evidence that the Uber driver was tortured.

Meanwhile, an official statement signed by Spokesperson of the state Ministry of Justice, Grace Alo, Saturday, March 25, and titled; ‘Re: Judgement of N5m awarded against LASG by the Federal High Court,’ disclosed that the government has formally appealed the High Court ruling.

The State Government, however, also stated that filing an appeal does not prevent the Ministry of Justice ‘upon obtaining a copy of the judgment from further reviewing the matter and deciding whether to proceed with or withdraw the appeal.’

“On the 14th of March 2023, the Federal High Court in Suit No FHC/L/CS/ 1862/2021, filed by Mr Clement Adedotun, delivered judgment against Lagos State Neighborhood Agency, said the government has decided to formally file an appeal challenging the ruling, and seeking a stay of execution of the judgement.

“As is customary when a judgment is delivered against the State Government, 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.

“Filing the appeal and asking for a stay of the judgment do not, however, prevent the management of the Ministry of Justice upon obtaining a copy of the judgment from further reviewing the matter and deciding whether to proceed with or withdraw the appeal.

“The process of taking that decision is underway and once a definitive position is taken members of the public will be notified.

“The State Government reassures the public that in carrying out its duties, it will continue to be guided by the rule of law,” the statement read.

Meanwhile, reacting to the notice of appeal, counsel to the Uber driver, Mr. Inibehe Effiong said his client was disappointed by the action of the Lagos Government, even as he vowed that he was ready to face them at the Court of Appeal.

“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,” Effiong said.