By Our Reporter
In the face of the impending nationwide planned protest beginning Thursday, August 1, 2024, and in response to the demand by the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun for conveners to submit areas of convergence to the Force, Ebun Adegboruwa, SAN, solicitor to one of the protest organisers, Take-it-Back Movement, in a letter to the IGP, listed the points of convergence for the rallies to include Eagle Square, Abuja; Alausa Park, Lagos, and Opposite Wema Bank; and Akpakpava Lane, Benin City.
Other locations are opposite the School of Agric, Bauchi; Rosewale Filling Station, Iwo Road, Ibadan; Maiduguri Roundabout, opposite State Stadium, Damaturu, Yobe State; Rainbow Roundabout and Pantani Stadium, Rivers and Freedom Park, Osogbo, Osun State.
But in a twist of events a Lagos High Court, Tuesday, restricted protesters in Lagos to the Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park in Ojota and Peace Park, Ketu area of the state, denying them access to Alausa Park in Lagos as demanded.
Justice Emmanuel Ogundare, gave the judgement following a preemptive exparte application filed by the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Lawal Pedro, SAN, seeking to maintain and secure public safety and prevent irreparable loss of lives and property in the state during the period of the protests.
Listed as co-defendants in the application are Adamma Ukpabi and Tosin Harsogba (for Active Citizens Group); Comrade Juwon Sanyaolu and Hassan Soweto (for Take it Back Movement); Persons unknown and Commissioner of Police, Lagos State.
Recall that the IG had met with some key organisers of the protest earlier on Tuesday in Abuja to rob minds on the need to maintain peace and order during the protest.
Adegboruwa was also one of those present at the meeting and one of the organisers of Take It Back movement, alongside the likes of Femi Falana, SAN, and others requested for police protection of the protesters, which was granted them by the IGP.
Based on the request, the IGP ordered senior officers to protect protesters in the planned nationwide protest.
In a letter, dated July 29 and signed by Johnson Adenola, the IGP principal secretary, IGP Egbetokun granted the request of the group for police protection.
“I am to inform you that the Inspector-General of Police has directed the Deputy Inspectors-General of Police (Operations and Intelligence), the Assistant Inspectors-General of Police in charge of Zonal Police Headquarters, and the Commissioners of Police in charge of state commands across the country to attend to your request.’’
“The IGP has advised the Take-It-Back Movement, who have indicated their interest in protest, to engage with the respective state police commissioners to coordinate and plan the protests in a manner that ensures the safety of participants and the general public. ’He said this is also to pre-empt any security challenges and ensure that the protests proceed peacefully.