that the government set up a task force within fourteen days to look into
their grievances of checking the increase in the commodities.
Other civil society leaders in the protest like Kola Edokpayi, Kelly Omokaro
also unanimously passed a vote of no confidence on the state Commissioner
of Police Mr Phillip Ogbadu who allegedly deployed his officers to do the
bidding of higher powers.”
Edokpayi said “The Commissioner of Police is supposed to be a
knowledgeable man but has belittled himself before us, you can see the
padlock, he ordered his men to lock us inside the museum ground, he has
imprisoned us illegally.”
69. The report of Sun News online of 29th March 2021, is also similar to the
above reproduced reports, thereby confirming elements found in the facts
narrated by the Applicants like the date, venue and incident that occurred
on the day of the protest.
70.The Court, upon review of the media reports (Exhibits E, F & G), notes that
as it concerns the venue, all three media reports confirmed that the incident
occurred at the Museum Grounds in Benin City, Edo State as alleged by the
Applicants.
71.The organizers of the rally were named as Comrade Kelly Osunbor
Omokaro, Kola Edokpayi and Osemudamen Ogbidi who are also the
second, third and fourth Applicants respectively in the instant Application.
72.The media reports also named the security agents who prevented the rally
as the Nigeria Police, Department of State Services, Nigeria Security and
Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and vigilante groups which aligns with the
narration of the Applicants.
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