The Uber Driver,
Adedotun Clement, assaulted by official of the Nigeria Police Force and Lagos
State Neighbourhood Watch(LSNC), has filed legal documents against Lagos state
government for N500 million in damages.
A statement
from Mr. Clement’s lawyer, Inibehe Effiong reads:
“Uber
driver assaulted during #EndSARS memorial protest demands 500 Million Naira
compensation for violation of his rights, seizure and destruction of his
vehicle and prosecution of culprits
We've
written to the Lagos State Government through the Attorney General of Lagos
State to demand payment of the sum of N500,000,000 (Five Hundred Million Naira)
as compensation to Adedotun Clement for the gross violation of his fundamental
rights to dignity of the human person, personal liberty and property and for
the deprivation of his source of livelihood and the destruction of his vehicle.
Adedotun
Clement is the innocent Uber driver that was assaulted by some officers of the
Lagos State Neighborhood Safety Corps (LNSC) and Nigeria Police Force during
the first anniversary of the #EndSARS protest at Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos.
In addition
to payment of monetary compensation, we also demanded that disciplinary
measures be taken against the culprits who assaulted Adedotun, and that they
should be prosecuted in court in line with the Anti-Torture Act and the
Criminal Law of Lagos State.
Also, we
are equally demanding a written apology from the state government.
It should
be noted that the vehicle of Mr. Adedotun has been returned but in a bad
condition. The agents of the state government broke and damaged the front
windscreen of his Toyota Corolla.
The vehicle
was in good condition before it was towed away on Wednesday, 20th October,
2021. But upon reaching where the vehicle was taken to on Friday, 22nd October,
2021, Adedotun saw the destruction done to his vehicle by agents of the state
government.
The
implication is that he cannot use the vehicle to earn a living until it is
repaired.
My
attention has been drawn to the public statement by the Lagos State
Neighborhood Safety Agency (LNSA) wherein it is stated that two officers of the
agency were subjected to orderly room trial, found guilty of assault and
general unruly behaviour and suspended for two months.
While we commend the Lagos State Government for admitting that the conduct of its agents was criminal and unprofessional, we find the two months suspension meted on the two officers grossly insufficient and unacceptable. It is not a deterrence.
The
officers should be dismissed and diligently prosecuted in a court of law to
serve as a deterrence to others.
Finally, we
are expecting the Lagos State Government to respond to our modest demands
within 48 hours or we will have no other option but to commence legal
proceedings to seek redress for Adedotun.
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