EndSARS: Sanwo-Olu Directs Lagos Attorney General To Pay Uber Driver N5M Compensation

The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has directed the Attorney General of the state to pay N5 Million compensation to an Uber driver, Adedotun Clement, who was tortured during the first anniversary of EndSARS in 2021.

A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos had on March 14, ordered the Lagos State Government and the Nigeria Police to pay the sum as compensation to Clement.

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Delivering judgment in the fundamental rights case with Suit Number: FHC/CS/1862/2021, the presiding judge, Hon. Justice A. L. Allagoa, found that the treatment meted on the applicant amounted to a violation of his right to dignity and awarded the sum of N5 million as damages.

However, in a Notice of Appeal filed on Tuesday, March 21, but served on Friday, March 24, signed by Dr. Babajide Martins, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in the Lagos State Ministry of Justice, the government said there was no evidence that the Uber driver was tortured.

“I’m not surprised by their decision not to obey a judgment that the everyone knows is justifiable. Since they’ve chosen this infamous path, I will equally file a cross-appeal against the N5 Million damages and ask the Court of Appeal to increase it significantly,” Clement ‘s lawyer, Inibehe Effiong had said on Friday.

The human rights lawyer added that “the message derivable from this action is that Lagosians are back to the regime of real Governor Sanwo-Olu that they know, and not the pretentious one who tried to project himself as a populist or respecter of human rights during the campaigns.”

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However, reacting to the judgement on Saturday , Sanwo-Olu said that although the state government has appealed the ruling, he has interceded in the interest of the public good, and requested that the state’s Attorney General comply with the court’s ruling.

The governor noted that he is committed to upholding the rule of law and protecting citizens’ rights with empathy and authority.

“I recently became aware of the case involving Mr. Clement Adedotun and the judgement by the Federal High Court, and I understand the impact this legal battle has had on him.

“After reviewing Mr. Clement’s case, I’ve directed the Honorable Attorney General to set up a meeting and pay him the compensation awarded by the Court,” Sanwo-Olu said via his social media handles.

“As a strong advocate for the rule of law, I commend all parties for seeking justice through the appropriate channels, and I remain committed to upholding the rights of all Lagosians,” he added.

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