The Lagos State Police Command has arraigned two activists, Taiwo Hassan and Dele Frank, over their alleged roles in the recent protest against demolitions in parts of the state.
The activists, who were arrested during the demonstration, were charged before a magistrate court in Yaba on five counts bordering on breach of peace and related offences.
According to the police, the defendants allegedly threatened members of the public who refused to participate in the protest. They were also accused of singing “abusive songs” aimed at inciting the public against the Lagos State Government.
In the charge sheet, the police stated:
“That you TAIWO HASSAN A.K.A SOWETO ‘M’, DELE FRANK ‘M’ 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,” the charge sheet reads.
The police further alleged:
“That you TAIWO HASSAN A.K.A SOWETO ‘M’, DELE FRANK ‘M’ 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, obstructed 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) the Criminal Law of Lagos state of Nigeria, 2015.”
Another count accused the activists of chanting abusive songs against the police and the state government with the intent to provoke the public and damage the government’s image.
“That you TAIWO HASSAN A.K.A SOWETO ‘M’, DELE FRANK ‘M’ 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 sing abusive songs 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.”
The New Daily Prime reported on Wednesday that demonstrators converged at the Ikeja under-bridge to protest the demolition of structures in Makoko, Owode Onirin, Oworonshoki, Otumara and Baba-Ijora communities.
The protesters marched along Obafemi Awolowo Road toward the Lagos State House of Assembly complex in Alausa. Tension escalated when police officers fired tear gas after protesters insisted on gaining entry into the legislative complex before any official engagement.
Amid the chaos, protesters and journalists fled the scene as tear gas spread across the area.
