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By Lukman Olabiyi
The Lagos State Police Command has arraigned two rights activists, Hassan Taiwo, popularly known as Soweto and Dele Frank, before the Yaba Chief Magistrate’s Court over their alleged involvement in a protest against illegal demolitions, forcible evictions and land grabbing in Lagos.
The activists who were docked yesterday, were charged with five counts bordering on conspiracy, conduct likely to cause a breach of the peace, threats, unlawful assembly, obstruction of traffic, and allegedly singing abusive songs against the police and the Lagos State Government.
According to the prosecutor, Anthony Ihiehie, the defendants conspired on January 28, 2026, at Allen Avenue, Alausa, and within the precincts of the Lagos State House of Assembly to engage in actions capable of disturbing public peace.
He told the court that the alleged acts included threatening members of the public and obstructing vehicular movement.
Both defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Proceedings were briefly disrupted when human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, announced his appearance for the defendants.
The prosecutor objected, citing a 2025 decision of an Oyo State court which he claimed barred Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) from appearing before lower courts.
Falana, however, argued that the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and the Lagos State Magistrates’ Court Law expressly allow any qualified legal practitioner, irrespective of rank, to appear before magistrates’ courts.
In her ruling, Magistrate I.O. Alaka upheld Falana’s submission, stating that “the rank of SAN is not a restriction” to appearance before a magistrate’s court.
The court subsequently granted the defendants bail in the sum of N200,000 each, with two sureties in like sum, and adjourned the case to March 3, 2026, for mention.
