Driver Assaulted During #EndSARS Memorial To Get N5 Million Payout Sanwo-Olu Approves
Adedotun Clement, an Uber driver, was beaten on October 20, 2021, during a gathering to celebrate the one-year anniversary of the #EndSARS protest in the state. Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has mandated the payment of five million naira in compensation to Clement.
In a statement released on Saturday, the governor claimed that he had “instructed the Honorable Attorney General to schedule a meeting and give him the compensation granted by the court.”
The state government was ordered to pay N5 million to Adedotun as compensation by the court on March 14, 2023. Adedotun was allegedly tortured on October 20, 2021 at the Lekki Toll-Gate during the first #EndSARS anniversary.
Inibehe Effiong, Adedotun’s attorney, alleged in a statement on Friday that the Lagos administration had rejected the High Court’s ruling due to the “lack of proof supporting the torture.”
According to Adedotun’s attorney, there was a demonstration to mark the first anniversary of #EndSARS when he met a bottleneck at the Lekki Toll-Gate while transporting a passenger to the mainland of Lagos. Police officers and members of the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Agency abused and pepper-sprayed him.
But, the state government rejected the applicant’s allegations during the hearing of the issue on grounds of law and facts, the justice ministry said in a statement released on Saturday by its public relations officer, Grace Alo.
“As is customary when a judgment is delivered against the State Government, the counsel handling the matter is enjoined to file an appeal (a constitutional right) along with an application to stay execution of the judgment in order to protect and reserve the rights available to the State Government under the law,” Alo said.
Nonetheless, Governor Sanwo-Olu said that he was dedicated to upholding the law in his capacity.
The governor made the following remark on his verified Twitter account:
“Good evening, Lagos. As governor, I’m dedicated to enforcing the law and securing the rights of the populace with power and compassion.
“I just learned about Mr. Clement Adedotun’s case and the Federal High Court’s ruling, and I recognize the effect this legal dispute has had on him.
I’ve instructed the Honorable Attorney General to schedule a meeting and give Mr. Clement the compensation the court has ordered after evaluating his case.
Despite the fact that the state administration has challenged the decision, the governor claims that
I intervened in this case on behalf of the general welfare and asked the state’s attorney general to abide by the court’s decision.
As a fervent supporter of the rule of law, Sanwo-Olu praised all parties for pursuing justice via the proper channels and vowed to continue fighting for the rights of all Lagosians.
