The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwoolu, has rejected a court order to compensate the Uber driver who was tortured during the EndSARS memorial.

A Federal High Court in Lagos had on March 14, 2023 ordered the Lagos State Government to pay the sum of N5 Million as compensation to Adedotun Clement, an Uber driver who was severely tortured by officials of the State Neighbourhood Safety Agency and the Nigeria Police Force during the first anniversary of #EndSARS protest in 2021.

Clement was carrying a passenger to Lagos Mainland when he encountered a gridlock at the Lekki Toll-Gate during a march to commemorate the first anniversary of EndSARS and was intercepted by the officials.

A video of the assault on the Uber driver went viral and caused a huge uproar from Nigerians on social media.

Human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, filed a lawsuit against the Lagos State Government and the Nigeria Police Force to seek redress.

Delivering judgement in the fundamental rights case with Suit Number: FHC/CS/1862/2021, Justice Allagoa held that the treatment meted on the applicant amounted to a violation of his right to dignity and awarded the sum of N5 million as damages.

Following the judgment, Effiong wrote a letter to Governor Sanwo-Olu on March 16, 2023 demanding compliance with the judgment.

However, the governor refused to act on the demand. The Lagos State Government has now filed an appeal at the Court of Appeal in Lagos against the judgment.

In a Notice of Appeal filed on Tuesday, March 21, 2023, but served on Friday, March 24, signed by Dr. Babajide Martins, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in the Lagos State Ministry of Justice, the government said there was no evidence that Clement was tortured.

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