LAWYER SUES LAGOS GOVERNMENT OVER ‘OKADA’ BAN

A Lagos State practicing lawyer, Tope Akinyode, on Wednesday sued the Lagos State Government over the ban on commercial tricycles (keke) and Motorcycles (Okada) in some parts of the State, arguing that the ban was abuse of fundamental human rights.

Penpushing reports that,  the lawyer declared that by the virtue of a law titled: “Transport Sector Reform Law, 2018”, “Lagosians have been thrown into tremendous distress because the law which is being enforced places a ban on Tricycles and Motorcycles which are widely used by Lagosians as major means of transportation.”

The lawsuit which is yet to be assigned to a judge or a date for the hearing given reads, “challenging the law in court today, I am seeking a declaration and an injuction of court to declare the law a violation of people’s human right and an injunction to prohibit the enforcement of the law because it violates the citizen’s fundamental human right to freedom of movement and own moveable properties as enshrined under Sections 41 and 44 of the Constitution.

“It’s an insensitive piece of legislation which seeks to deprive citizens their fundamental rights to move without restraint or purchase moveable properties of their choices which the constitution allows. If the government feel a need to regulate vehicular movement, it should go to Apapa and remove the trailers which have turned the Apapa bridge to a parking lot and are constituting a monstrous agony to the people of Lagos State,” the lawyer declared.

Penpushing further reports that, Lagos State Government while announcing the ban said it became necessary for security and safety, and thereafter deployed over 60 additional BRT buses to cushion the effects of the ban on commuters..