Fatimah Otunsanya
The Lagos State Police Command on Thursday arraigned activist Comrade Hassan Taiwo, popularly known as Soweto, alongside Dele Frank before the Yaba Chief Magistrate’s Court over their alleged roles in a protest against illegal demolitions, forcible evictions and land grabbing at the Lagos State House of Assembly.
The defendants were charged with five counts bordering on conspiracy, conduct likely to cause a breach of the peace, threats, unlawful assembly, obstruction of traffic, and singing abusive songs against the police and the Lagos State Government.
Prosecutor Anthony Ihiehie told the court that the defendants conspired on January 28, 2026, at Allen Avenue, Alausa, and the premises of the House of Assembly to engage in actions capable of causing a breach of the peace, including threatening members of the public and obstructing traffic.
Both defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.
A mild drama ensued when human rights lawyer Femi Falana, SAN, announced his appearance for the defendants, prompting an objection from the prosecutor, who cited a 2025 Oyo State court decision allegedly barring Senior Advocates of Nigeria from appearing before lower courts.
Falana countered the objection, arguing that both the Constitution and the Lagos State Magistrates’ Court Law expressly permit any legal practitioner, regardless of rank, to appear before magistrates’ courts.
In his ruling, Magistrate I.O. Alaka agreed with Falana, stating that “the rank of SAN is not a restriction.”
The court subsequently granted the defendants bail in the sum of N200,000 each, with two sureties, and adjourned the case to March 3, 2026, for mention.