BREAKING: Lagos Court Grants Activists Soweto, Dele Frank N200,000 Bail Each Over Anti-Demolition Protest

SaharaReporters had earlier reported that the Lagos State Police Command arraigned Soweto, Frank and other anti-demolition and forced eviction protesters before the court over alleged felony offences arising from a protest in Ikeja on Wednesday.

The Yaba Magistrate Court in Lagos State on Thursday granted activist Hassan Taiwo, popularly known as Soweto, and protest leader Dele Frank bail in the sum of ₦200,000 each.

SaharaReporters had earlier reported that the Lagos State Police Command arraigned Soweto, Frank and other anti-demolition and forced eviction protesters before the court over alleged felony offences arising from a protest in Ikeja on Wednesday.

The police filed five counts against the protesters, including allegations of conduct likely to cause a breach of the peace, threats of violence, unlawful assembly and obstruction of the free flow of traffic.

Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), appeared in court to represent the protesters.

Soweto, a leading member of the Democratic Socialist Movement (DSM) and spokesperson for the #EndBadGovernance Movement in Lagos, was arrested by operatives of the Lagos State Police Command while participating in a protest against the demolition and forced eviction of residents from Makoko, Oworonshoki, Owode-Onirin and other low-income communities across the state.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the police said Soweto and Frank were being investigated at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti, over their alleged roles in what the Command described as a violent and unlawful demonstration.

According to the police, the protest began at the Ikeja Under-Bridge, where demonstrators allegedly blocked Awolowo Road for several hours, extending towards Alausa.

The protesters were also accused of carrying a coffin, mounting loudspeakers on a vehicle, and barricading major routes, actions the police said brought traffic to a standstill.

The Command further claimed that the blockade hindered residents with medical emergencies from accessing hospitals and disrupted travellers heading to the airport, creating panic and chaos in parts of Ikeja and Alausa.

Granting them bail, the Magistrate said, “I release them to the learned Silk (referring to Falana). I am very sure the learned Silk understands the consequences of this ruling?”

In response, Falana said, “Yes, my lord. I’m the one that intervened between them and the police so the rally could hold yesterday.”

The Magistrate asked Falana, “You attest that you know them very well?”

“My learned friend (referring to the police prosecutor) can attest that I have never broken my word,” Falana replied.

But the police prosecutor said, “I’m not aware of that.”

“The CP (Commissioner of Police) of Lagos and I had an agreement for the protest to go on,” said Falana, but the police prosecutor said, “I wasn't there. I don't know.”

The police prosecutor further told the court: “Inasmuch as bail is free, these young men, if court grants them bail, they will go back and block the National Assembly (sic).

“We are pleading with the court to grant them bail in conditions that will make them recognise the seriousness of the case and appear in court.”

However, the Magistrate granted the defendants bail in the sum of ₦200,000 each, with two responsible sureties in like sum. The case was thereafter adjourned to March 3, 2026.

Count one of the charges against Soweto, Frank and other protesters reads, “That you Taiwo Hassan A.K.A Soweto, Dele Frank, and others at large, on the 28th day of January, 2026 at Ikeja Allen Avenue, Alausa and the House of Assembly premises Lagos in the Lagos Magisterial District did conspire among yourselves to commit felony to wit: conduct likely to cause breach of peace threatening, violence, unlawful assembly and obstructing the free flow of traffic and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 411 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.”

Count two reads, “That you Taiwo Hassan A.K.A Soweto, Dele Frank and others still at large on the 28th day of January, 2026 at Ikeja, Allen Avenue, Alausa and the House of Assembly premises, Lagos within the aforementioned Magisterial District threatened to harm member of public who fail to join the protest against Lagos State Government and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 56 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.”

Count three of the charges reads, “That you Taiwo Hassan A.K.A Soweto, Dele Frank, and others still at large on the 28th day of January, 2026 at Ikeja, Allen Avenue, Alausa and the House of Assembly premises, Lagos within the aforementioned Magisterial District conducted yourselves in a manner to cause the breach of peace and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 57 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.”

In Count four, the police allege: “That you Taiwo Hassan A.K.A Soweto, Dele Frank, and others still at large on the 28th day of January, 2026 at Ikeja, Allen Avenue, Alausa and the House of Assembly premises, Lagos within the aforementioned Magisterial District did obstruct the flow of traffic by blocking the public high way with vehicle carrying public address system and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 57 (C) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.”

The police in count five allege, “That you Taiwo Hassan A.K.A Soweto, Dele Frank, and others still at large on the 28th day of January, 2026 at Ikeja, Allen Avenue, Alausa and the House of Assembly premises, Lagos within the aforementioned Magisterial District do sing abusive song against the police and the Lagos State Government with intent to provoke and tarnish the image of the Lagos State Government and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 57 (C) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.”

Meanwhile, several human rights groups have condemned the police brutality and arrest of Soweto and other protesters during a peaceful protest against forced eviction and demolitions in Lagos State communities by the state government.

The groups accused the police and state authorities of repression, brutality, and disregard for the constitutional rights of the protesters.