The Lagos State Police Command on Thursday arraigned activist Comrade Hassan Taiwo, popularly known as Soweto, alongside Dele Frank before the Yaba Chief Magistrate’s Court over their participation in a protest against illegal demolitions, forcible evictions, and land grabbing at the Lagos State House of Assembly.
The defendants were charged with five counts of conspiracy, behavior likely to cause a breach of the peace, threats, unlawful assembly, obstruction of traffic, and singing derogatory lyrics about the police and the Lagos State Government.
Prosecutor Anthony Ihiehie informed the court that on January 28, 2026, the defendants planned to cause a breach of the peace by intimidating members of the public and obstructing traffic on Allen Avenue in Alausa and on the grounds of the House of Assembly.
Both defendants pleaded not guilty to their allegations.
When human rights lawyer Femi Falana, SAN, announced his appearance for the defendants, the prosecutor objected, citing a supposed 2025 Oyo State court judgment forbidding Senior Advocates of Nigeria from attending in subordinate courts.
Falana responded to the complaint, saying that both the Constitution and the Lagos State Magistrates’ Court Law specifically allow any legal practitioner, regardless of status, to appear before magistrates’ courts.
In his ruling, Magistrate I.O. Alaka agreed with Falana, adding that “the rank of SAN is not a restriction.”
The court then granted the defendants bail in the amount of N200,000 apiece, with two sureties, and adjourned the case until March 3, 2026, for mention.
