An Uber driver, Adedotun Clement, who was viciously assaulted at the End Sars Memorial event on Wednesday, has sued the Lagos state government for 500 million naira, according to court documents seen by HotNaija.
Clement was seen in a viral video wailing and refusing to enter a waiting van on the notion that he was only an Uber driver caught up in the traffic jam due to the ongoing #EndSARS protest in memory of the protesters who lost their lives in 2020. An LNSC (Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps) member also pepper-sprayed his eye, resulting in severe pain and sight obstruction
Clement said his vehicle was towed by the LNSC to an unknown location while in an attempt to flee from the Nigerian Police Force firing multiple tear gas canisters indiscriminately. When he tried to enquire about his missing vehicle, he was seriously brutalized, tortured and dehumanized of his rights.
The victim's counsel – Inibehe Effiong, stated via his Facebook page while also tagging popular Nigerian human rights activist, former presidential candidate and Sahara Reporters founder – Omoyele Sowore, on Friday, October 22nd that:
PRESS RELEASE
"UBER DRIVER ASSAULTED DURING ENDSARS MEMORIAL PROTEST DEMANDS N500M COMPENSATION FOR VIOLATION OF HIS RIGHTS, SEIZURE, AND DESTRUCTION OF HIS VEHICLE AND PROSECUTION OF CULPRITS"
"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 the deprivation of his source of livelihood and the destruction of his vehicle."
"Adedotun Clement is the innocent Uber driver that was assaulted by some officers of the Lagos State Neighborhood Safety Corps (LNSC) and Nigeria Police Force during the first anniversary of the #EndSARS protest at Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos."
"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."
"Also, we are equally demanding a written apology from the state government."
"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, October 20th 2021. But upon reaching where the vehicle was taken to on Friday, October 22nd 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 behavior, 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."
INIBEHE EFFIONG, ESQ.
Principal Counsel.
