Lagos Govt makes U-turn, as Sanwo-Olu directs AG to pay N5m compensation to brutalised Uber driver

Lagos Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu has directed the istate’s Attorney General to pay the N5 million awarded by a Federal High Court in the state as compensation to an Uber driver who was arrested and brutalised by security operatives attached to the state government.

The Uber driver, Adedotun Clement, was assaulted by personnel of the Lagos State Neighborhood Safety Agency (LSNSA) and officers of the Nigeria Police from the Lagos Command during the first anniversary of the EndSARS protests on October 20, 2021, at the Lekki Toll-Gate.

The attack on Adedotun Clement was captured in a video which went viral 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 at the Federal High Court in the state.

In his ruling, Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa, of the Federal High Court 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 delivered by Justice Lewis-Allagoa, 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 the 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,’ informed 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.

However, in a twist, Saturday, the State Governor Sanwo-Olu, directed the state’s Attorney General to pay the sum to Clement Adedotun, in accordance with the court ruling.

In a post on his verified Twitter handle on Saturday, the governor said he has directed that the damages be paid.

“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,” Sanwo-Olu tweeted.

“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.

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.”

It would be recalled that following the Lagos Government’s earlier decision to appeal the High Court ruling, the counsel to Clement Adedotun said he would equally file a cross-appeal against the N5 million damages and ask the Court of Appeal to increase it significantly.

“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 had said.