JUST IN: Lagos court grants popular activists ₦200,000 bail

The Yaba Magistrate Court in Lagos on Thursday granted Hassan Taiwo, popularly known as Soweto, and protest leader Dele Frank bail in the sum of ₦200,000 each.

The Lagos State Police Command had arraigned Soweto, Frank and other anti-demolition protesters over alleged felony offences arising from a protest in Ikeja on Wednesday.

The police filed five counts against the defendants, including conduct likely to cause a breach of the peace, threats of violence, unlawful assembly and obstruction of the free flow of traffic.

Chief Femi Falana, SAN, appeared in court to represent the protesters.

Soweto, a leading member of the Democratic Socialist Movement and spokesperson for the #EndBadGovernance Movement in Lagos, was arrested during a protest against the demolition and forced eviction of residents from Makoko, Oworonshoki, Owode-Onirin and other low-income communities.

In a statement on Wednesday, the police said Soweto and Frank were being investigated at the state criminal investigation department in Panti over their alleged roles in what it described as a violent and unlawful demonstration.

The police said the protest began at the Ikeja under-bridge, where demonstrators allegedly blocked Awolowo Road for several hours and extended towards Alausa.

According to the police, protesters carried a coffin, mounted loudspeakers on a vehicle and barricaded major routes, actions it said brought traffic to a standstill.

The command also claimed the blockade prevented residents with medical emergencies from accessing hospitals and disrupted travellers heading to the airport.

Granting bail, the magistrate said: “I release them to the learned silk. I am very sure the learned silk understands the consequences of this ruling?”

Falana replied: “Yes, my lord. I’m the one that intervened between them and the police so the rally could hold yesterday.”

The magistrate granted the defendants bail with two responsible sureties in like sum and adjourned the case to March 3, 2026.

Count one of the charge reads: “That you Taiwo Hassan A.K.A Soweto, Dele Frank, and others at large, on the 28th day of January, 2026 at Ikeja Allen Avenue, Alausa and the House of Assembly premises Lagos in the Lagos Magisterial District did conspire among yourselves to commit felony to wit: conduct likely to cause breach of peace threatening, violence, unlawful assembly and obstructing the free flow of traffic and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 411 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.”

Count two states that the defendants allegedly threatened members of the public who failed to join the protest, an offence punishable under section 56 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

Count three accuses them of conduct likely to cause a breach of the peace, contrary to section 57 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

In count four, the police allege obstruction of traffic by blocking a public highway with a vehicle carrying a public address system, punishable under section 57(C) of the law.

Count five alleges that the defendants sang abusive songs against the police and the Lagos State Government with intent to provoke and tarnish the image of the state.