Two social crusaders, Comrade Hassan Taiwo, better known as Soweto, and Dele Frank, appeared before a Yaba Chief Magistrate’s Court on Thursday over their alleged involvement in a protest against unauthorised demolitions and land seizures at the Lagos State House of Assembly.
The accused persons are facing a five count charge sheet that includes allegations of criminal conspiracy, conduct likely to breach public peace, issuance of threats, illegal gathering, obstruction of vehicular movement, and chanting derogatory songs targeting the police and the state government.
The prosecution counsel, Anthony Ihiehie, informed the court that the duo, on January 28, 2026, at Allen Avenue, Alausa, and within the Assembly premises, colluded to carry out activities capable of disrupting public order, intimidating citizens, and blocking traffic flow.
Both men entered not guilty pleas to all the charges preferred against them.
A brief courtroom altercation occurred when senior human rights counsel, Femi Falana, SAN, rose to announce his representation of the defendants.
The prosecutor immediately raised an objection, citing a 2025 ruling from an Oyo State court which purportedly prohibited Senior Advocates from practising before subordinate courts.
Falana, however, dismissed the objection, insisting that both the Nigerian Constitution and the Lagos State Magistrates’ Court Law explicitly grant all legal practitioners, irrespective of designation, the right to appear before magistrates’ courts.
Presiding Magistrate I.O. Alaka upheld Falana’s position, declaring that “the rank of SAN is not a restriction.”
The court thereafter admitted the defendants to bail in the sum of N200,000 each, with two sureties in like sum, and fixed March 3, 2026, for mention of the case.