Residents protest at Lagos Assembly over detention of community leader, Hammed Tajudeen

Residents Protest at Lagos Assembly Over Community Leader’s Detention

LAGOS, Nigeria — A group of residents from Ajiran in the Eti-Osa Local Government Area staged a peaceful protest outside the Lagos State House of Assembly on Monday, demanding the release of Hammed Tajudeen Akanbi, a community leader currently detained in connection with the deaths of Prince Ademola Akinloye and Sheriff Ishola Salami.

Akanbi’s legal team, which has raised concerns regarding biases in his trial, called for a comprehensive investigation into the allegations. They contend that the evidence does not directly link him to the murders, suggesting the case may be rooted in ongoing disputes over community land and its financial proceeds.

During the protest, members of a civil society organization marched from the Ikeja Shopping Mall to the Assembly, carrying placards and delivering a petition to the Speaker. The petition urged authorities to uphold justice and the rule of law amid concerns about Akanbi’s continued detention.

Copies of the petition were forwarded to several high-ranking officials, including the Lagos State Governor, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, as well as the Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission.

The group indicated that should their demands not be met within three days, they would escalate their demonstrations to further advocate for Akanbi’s release.

Akanbi was apprehended in Cotonou, Benin Republic, on April 15, as investigations into the murder cases progressed.

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