Yaba Chief Magistrate Court for Lagos don grant bail give activists Taiwo ‘Soweto’ Hassan and Dele Frank, wey dem carry go court because of their role for protest against alleged illegal demolition and forceful eviction for some parts of Lagos State.
Yaba Chief Magistrate Court for Lagos don grant bail give activists Taiwo ‘Soweto’ Hassan and Dele Frank, wey dem carry go court because of their role for protest against alleged illegal demolition and forceful eviction for some parts of Lagos State.
Dem arrest the two of dem on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, and dem bring dem come court on Thursday with five charges. The charges include conspiracy, behaviour wey fit cause breach of peace, threats, unlawful assembly, blocking traffic, and singing abusive songs against police and Lagos State Government.
As dem dey hear the case before Magistrate Mrs. I.O. Alaka, prosecution talk say Soweto and Frank, with other people wey still dey on the run, do things wey scatter public peace, block major roads with motor wey get public address system, and threaten members of the public wey no join the protest.
Both of dem plead say dem no guilty to all the charges.
Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, na him represent dem, but prosecution first object say make Falana no appear for the court.
Police lawyer argue say one 2025 court ruling for another state stop SANs from appearing before lower courts, but Falana counter am sharply. E quote the Constitution and Lagos State Magistrates’ Court Law wey guarantee defendants right to choose any lawyer wey dem want.
The magistrate agree with Falana and confirm say no law stop am from appearing for the court.
For her ruling, Magistrate Alaka grant Soweto and Frank bail of ₦200,000 each, with two responsible sureties wey go bring the same amount.
After dem meet the bail conditions, dem release Soweto and Frank from custody.
Dem describe the bail conditions as “liberal,” and Falana himself promise say e go make sure say the defendants show face for all future court sittings.
The court don adjourn the case till March 3, 2026, for further mention.
