A Lagos court has dismissed the charges brought against human rights activist Omoyele Sowore and 13 others arrested during a protest against demolition activities in the Oworoshoki area of Lagos state.
The protesters were taken into custody after staging a demonstration to oppose what they described as unjust demolitions affecting residents in the riverine community.
Their arrest was reportedly ordered by the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Jimoh Moshood, following tensions between security operatives and demonstrators at the protest site.
Court Upholds Right to Protest
At the hearing, the court struck out the case against the defendants, effectively bringing the prosecution to an end.
Though details of the court’s reasoning were not immediately available, the ruling represents a significant legal reprieve for the activist and his co-defendants.
The development has been widely interpreted by civil society observers as a reaffirmation of citizens’ constitutional right to peaceful assembly and expression.
The arrests had drawn criticism from rights groups and activists, who argued that the protesters were exercising their lawful right to challenge government actions. Sowore, a prominent voice in Nigeria’s pro-democracy movement and convener of the #RevolutionNow campaign, has frequently faced legal battles tied to his activism.
Residents of Oworoshoki had protested the demolition exercise, alleging inadequate notice and insufficient engagement by authorities. The confrontation that followed led to the arrest of Sowore and 13 others, who were subsequently charged before the court.
News of the court’s decision was met with celebration among supporters, many of whom described the ruling as a victory for civil liberties. As of the time of filing this report, the Lagos State Police Command had not issued an official response to the judgment.
The case is the latest in a series of legal confrontations testing the boundaries between state authority and civic protest in Nigeria.
