The Yaba magistrate court in Lagos has granted bail to Taiwo Hassan and Dele Frank who were arrested during the protest against demolitions in some communities in the state.
The police arraigned the activists on a five-count charge bordering on alleged disturbance of public peace. They pleaded not guilty to the charges
The police alleged that the duo threatened to harm members of the public who did not join the protest.
They also alleged that the activists sang “abusive songs” against the Lagos state government in a bid to incite the public.
“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.
“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.”
On Wednesday, some residents affected by the demolition in Makoko, Owode Onirin, Oworonshoki, Otumara and Baba-Ijora communities protested at the Ikeja area of Lagos state.
When the protesters arrived at the Lagos assembly complex, police operatives fired tear gas canisters after the demonstrators insisted on entering the complex.
During the court proceedings, Femi Falana, counsel to the defendants, asked the court to grant the activists bail.
But the police counsel told the court that the activists should be granted bail “with conditions that will make them understand that the case is serious”.
The magistrate granted bail to the two activists in the sum of N200,000 each with two sureties in like sum.
The case was adjourned to March 3, 2026.
