Folake Sokoya
The Commissioner of Police (CP) Lagos State, Edgal Imohimi, said the attention of the Force has been drawn to the news credited to the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) Chairman, (Ikeja branch), Mr. Adesina Ogunlana, that the body would use the occasion of the visit of President Muhammadu Buhari’s visit to Lagos to protest the Land Use Charge policy of the state.
Imohimi said he believes strongly that the planned protest by the NBA is the handiwork of “mischief makers” who are using the NBA as a launch pad to possibly compromise the security emplaced for the presidential visit.
“It must be recalled that on the 12th of March 2018, the Lagos State Police Command availed the NBA Ikeja branch its security assets and escorted them to the Government House Alausa to protest the increase in the Land Use Charge. At Alausa they were addressed and afterwards escorted back to their base.
“It is baffling that the same NBA whose right to protest has never been denied to use the auspicious occasion of the President’s visit to protest and disrupt the occasion and by extension compromise the security of the President is to say the least most incomprehensible.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the Lagos State Police Command will not tolerate any protest from the NBA or from any group or individual for that matter during the visit of Mr President whom Lagosians are ready to receive warmly.
The NBA and any group wanting to protest at this time are warned to jettison the idea or face dire consequences which may include arrest and prosecution of participants.