Adedotun Clement, the Uber driver who was assaulted and pepper-sprayed at the Lekki tollgate during the #EndSARS memorial, has demanding N500 million compensation from the Lagos State government.
Clement, through his counsel, Inibehe Effiong, a human rights lawyer, said the sum is for the violation of his rights, seizure and destruction of his vehicle.
The Uber driver was attacked by some officers of the Lagos State Neighborhood Safety Corps (LNSC) and Nigeria Police Force, at the first anniversary of the #EndSARS protest on October 20.
According to Effiong, “in addition to payment of monetary compensation, we also demanded that disciplinary measures be taken against the culprits who assaulted Adedotun, and that they should be prosecuted in court in line with the Anti-Torture Act and the Criminal Law of Lagos State”.
He also stated that “we are equally demanding a written apology from the state government”.
“We have written to the Lagos State Government through the Attorney General of Lagos State to demand payment of the sum of N500,000,000 (Five Hundred Million Naira) as compensation to Mr. Adedotun Clement for the gross violation of his fundamental rights to dignity of the human person, personal liberty and property and for the deprivation of his source of livelihood and the destruction of his vehicle,” he said.
“It should be noted that the vehicle of Mr. Adedotun has been returned but in a bad condition. The agents of the state government broke and damaged the front windscreen of his Toyota Corolla. The vehicle was in good condition before it was towed away on Wednesday, 20th October, 2021.
“But upon reaching where the vehicle was taken to on Friday, 22nd October, 2021, Adedotun saw the destruction done to his vehicle by agents of the state government.
“The implication is that he cannot use the vehicle to earn a living until it is repaired.
“My attention has been drawn to the public statement by the Lagos State Neighborhood Safety Agency (LNSA) wherein it is stated that two officers of the agency were subjected to orderly room trial, found guilty of assault and general unruly behaviour and suspended for two months.
“While we commend the Lagos State Government for admitting that the conduct of its agents was criminal and unprofessional, we find the two months suspension meted on the two officers grossly insufficient and unacceptable. It is not a deterrence. The officers should be dismissed and diligently prosecuted in a court of law to serve as a deterrence to others.
“Finally, we are expecting the Lagos State Government to respond to our modest demands within 48 hours or we will have no other option but to commence legal proceedings to seek redress for Adedotun.”
