The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos yesterday ordered the Lagos State Government and the Police to pay N5million to Adedotun Clement, the Uber driver allegedly assaulted on October 20, 2020, during the #EndSARS protest anniversary at the Lekki Toll-Gate.
The court heard that Clement was allegedly beaten, pepper-sprayed and dragged on the ground by the police and officials of the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Agency, who mistook him for a protester.
He was said to be carrying a passenger from the Island to the Mainland part of the state when he encountered the protest at the Lekki Toll Gate which was disrupted by the Police and Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Agency officials.
Following public condemnation that trailed the incident, Lagos-based human rights lawyer and activist, Inibehe Effiong, took up the case and sued the state, its Agency, its Attorney-General and the Police.
Delivering judgment, Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa held that the assault on the applicant amounted to a violation of his right to dignity.
The judge awarded Clement N5m as damages.