The trial of activist Hassan Taiwo Soweto, popularly known as Soweto, and co-defendant Dele Frank was stalled on Wednesday at the Yaba Chief Magistrate’s Court following the absence of the second defendant.
The Police had arraigned the duo on January 29, 2026, over their alleged involvement in a protest against illegal demolitions, forced evictions, and land grabbing affecting residents of Makoko and other waterfront communities in Lagos.
Soweto and Frank were arrested on January 28, 2026, during a protest at the Lagos State House of Assembly, where demonstrators decried the displacement of residents through demolition exercises.
The defendants are facing a five-count charge, including conspiracy, conduct likely to cause breach of peace, threats, unlawful assembly, obstruction of traffic, and allegedly singing abusive songs against the police and the Lagos State Government.
When the case came up for mention on Wednesday, Frank was absent.
Defence counsel Mr. O. C. Olagunju, representing both defendants, told the court that Frank had suddenly fallen ill.
“My lord, the second defendant is not in court because he is sick. He suddenly fell ill last night and was rushed to a healing home. That was what his neighbours told me,” Olagunju said.
He added that residents of riverine communities often seek treatment in traditional healing homes rather than orthodox hospitals.
“I do not know the nature of the illness, but people in riverine areas mostly use healing homes and not orthodox hospitals,” he explained, apologising on Frank’s behalf and assuring the court that the defendant had no intention of evading trial.
“We apologise on his behalf. His absence is not deliberate, and he is eager to face the trial,” Olagunju said.
However, the police prosecutor, ASP Anthony Ihiehie, opposed the explanation and urged the court to issue a bench warrant for Frank’s arrest.
“My lord, I am objecting. If he is sick, there should be evidence showing that he is sick. There should be a medical report stating the nature of the illness,” Ihiehie argued.
He also noted that the matter was coming up for mention for the first time and that the sureties who stood for Frank should show cause.
In her ruling, Magistrate I. O. Alaka observed that the surety for Frank should have been present in court. “The surety who took the bail of the second defendant ought to have been in court today,” she said.
Despite the prosecutor’s request, the court declined to issue a bench warrant and granted Frank the benefit of the doubt, allowing him to appear on the next adjourned date. The magistrate adjourned the case until April 24, 2026, for mention.
Meanwhile, a coalition of 13 civil society organisations and community groups condemned the trial, describing it as an attempt to intimidate peaceful protesters and suppress demands for justice for victims of forced evictions in Lagos.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Coalition Against Demolition, Forced Eviction, Landgrabbing and Displacement in Lagos State said activists, community members, and civil society organisations gathered at the court in solidarity with the defendants.
Signatories to the statement included community leaders and civil society actors such as Jude Ojo of Ilaje Otumara, Kunnu Paul of Otodo Gbame, Bisola Akinmuyiwa and Imole Dezyno of the Nigerian Slum/Informal Settlement Federation, Zikora Ibeh, Assistant Executive Director, Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa, Israel Idowu and Sylvanus Moses of the Makoko waterfront student community, and Comrade Abiodun Ahmed of the Owode Motor Spare Parts Market.
Others were Comrade Tunde Yusuf of the Ajegunle Peoples Movement, Olanrewaju Olusegun of the Coalition of Oworonshoki Demolition Victims, Betty Abah of the Centre for Children’s Health Education, Orientation and Protection, and Nnimmo Bassey of the Health of Mother Earth Foundation, Opeyemi Adamolekun – Active Citizen, Comrade Oloye Adegboyega-Deniji – Member of the Organising Committee, #EndBadGovernance Movement, Lagos State, and Megan Chapman – Co-Executive Director, Justice & Empowerment Initiatives.
The coalition alleged that the January 28 protest ended in a violent crackdown by security agents.
“The protest ended in a brutal crackdown with tear gas shot at protesters, resulting in numerous injuries and lost properties, as well as several arrests, the seizing of musical equipment and a vehicle that accompanied the protest, and the severe beating of Comrade Hassan Soweto,” the statement said.
The group described the prosecution as part of a broader attempt to silence dissent and weaken resistance in communities affected by demolitions.
“The ongoing prosecution is part of a systemic effort to intimidate peaceful protesters, divide evicted communities, ignore court orders and undermine legitimate efforts to seek meaningful justice for evictees,” it said, adding that the criminalisation of peaceful protest undermines democratic rights.
The coalition also accused authorities of disregarding court orders protecting communities from forced eviction and failing to comply with judgments awarding compensation to affected residents.
“Persistent disregard for court orders in favour of communities threatened by forced eviction and failure to pay compensation awarded by courts continue to undermine justice for victims,” the statement said, warning that repeated demolitions have left thousands of residents in severe hardship.
“These efforts to frustrate justice leave tens of thousands of victims of forced eviction in desperate poverty and unimaginable living conditions, with families separated and people living in makeshift tents or squatting with relatives,” the coalition said.
The group called on Lagos residents, Nigerians, and the international community to oppose forced evictions and support affected communities.
“We call on all residents of Lagos State, the nation and the world to rise up against this systematic displacement, dispossession, deception and denial of justice,” the coalition said.
source: punch
