Update: Comedian Mr Macaroni, other protesters charged to court
- #OccupyLekkiTollGate protesters are allegedly facing trial by a mobile court
- The protesters had stormed Lekki on Saturday to march against the reopening of the tollgate
- The police who had manned the tollgate, however, arrested many of them as they arrived at the tollgate
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An updated report by TVC News has indicated that the Nigerian youths arrested over the #OccupyLekkiProtest at the Lekki Tollgate have not been released.
The television network had earlier reported the commissioner of police in Lagos state, Hakeem Odumosu, ordered the immediate release of the protesters.
The news media, however, issued a retraction, stating that the protesters, including popular comedian, Mr Macaroni, has not been released.
Source: Getty Images
It was gathered that though the police released some 35 persons, they are not the #LekkiTollGate protesters.
TVC News tweeted:
"@mrmacaronii and Others arrested at the Lekki Toll Gate this morning, they have not been released as earlier reported, the 35 released are not the #LekkiTollGate protesters but a separate group of persons arrested by the Police."
The television network added that the protesters are currently undergoing trial by a mobile court at the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, Yaba.
Atiku reacts
Meanwhile, a former vice president of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar, has reacted to the numerous arrests of Lekki tollgate protesters carried out by police officials.
In a tweet on Saturday, February 13, Atiku cited the 1999 constitution which gave all Nigerian citizens the right to engage in peaceful protests.
Added to this, the prominent northern politician noted that courts in the country also acknowledge this right and affirm it.
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Black Maria carrying arrested protesters broke down
Amid the rising tension generated by the arrest of #OccupyLekkiTollGate protesters on Saturday, February 13, there was a brief moment of comic relief when the police's Black Maria broke down.
The Black Maria, a police van mainly used to transport prisoners, was the one the police kept the arrested protesters.
The officials of the Lekki Concession Company (LCC) had to push the van while the arrested protesters were eventually transferred into another vehicle.
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Nurudeen Lawal is a Legit.ng journalist passionate about fact-checking/verification journalism. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Literature-in-English from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State. As Politics Editor, Nurudeen mostly writes on Nigeria’s political and socio-economic developments. He has attended different workshops, conferences and training on fact-checking and digital reporting, among others. Learn more about him on Twitter, @Nurudeen Lawal_
Source: Legit.ng
