Canadian law professor Richard Janda writes Lagos DPP over ‘trumped-up charges’ against activists Soweto, Frank
By Ishaya Ibrahim
An Associate Professor of Law at McGill University in Canada, Prof. Richard Janda, has called on Lagos State authorities to immediately drop what he describes as “trumped-up charges” against Hassan Taiwo Soweto, coordinator and spokesperson of the #EndBadGovernance Movement in Lagos, and musician Dele Frank, also known as Arole Fela.
In a letter dated March 17, 2026, addressed to Dr. Babajide Martins, Director of Public Prosecutions at the Lagos State Ministry of Justice, the international human rights scholar also demanded an end to all attacks on democratic rights in the state.
Soweto and Frank were arrested during a peaceful protest on January 28, 2026, against the Lagos State Government’s ongoing demolitions and forced evictions of poor communities, particularly in waterfront areas such as Makoko, Oworonshoki, Ajegunle, and others.
The protest, which involved thousands of residents opposing the destruction of homes without adequate resettlement, was reportedly met with police repression, including the use of tear gas.
Eyewitnesses reported a brutal assault on Soweto at the premises of the Lagos State House of Assembly, the venue of the protest. Soweto alleged that the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Jimoh Moshood, participated in the attack against him.
Both Soweto and Frank were arraigned the following day, January 29, 2026, before a Yaba Magistrate Court, where they faced five-count charges, including conspiracy, conduct likely to cause a breach of the peace, threats, unlawful assembly, obstruction of traffic, and singing abusive songs.
Prof. Janda condemns the charges as an effort to “legalize attacks on democratic rights, stifle dissent, and criminalize peaceful protest.”
He references a July 24, 2025, Federal High Court judgment in Lagos that reaffirmed citizens’ rights to freedom of assembly and protest. In that case which marked the fourth anniversary of the #EndSARS protests on October 20, 2024, the court awarded N10 million in damages against the Nigerian Police Force for violating protesters’ rights, with Soweto among the successful applicants.
The letter also highlights serious allegations of police brutality against Soweto, claiming he suffered severe injury to his lower back from beatings that were personally supervised by Lagos State Commissioner of Police Jimoh Moshood. Prof. Janda calls this “bestial action” and demands an independent public probe involving representatives from the Nigerian Bar Association, Nigerian Medical Association, trade unions, civil society, and media.
Additionally, he urges the immediate release of items seized by police during the January 28 protest, including a DJ’s public address system, laptop, generator, and a first aid box—actions that have deprived owners of their livelihoods.
Prof. Janda warns that he will continue mobilizing support for these demands through media, working people, youth, trade unions, human rights organizations, and international parliamentarians until the issues are resolved.
The letter to the Lagos Director of Public Prosecutions reads in full below:
Dear Dr. Martins,
Re: Withdraw Trumped-up Charges against Hassan Taiwo Soweto and Dele Frank and End Attacks on Democratic Rights
You claim on your website to be “a Legal Luminary, a Progressive and Seasoned Technocrat, a Human Rights Advocate, a Passionate and Relentless Worker in the Temple of Justice.” In that spirit, I write to demand the immediate withdrawal of trumped-up charges proffered against Hassan Taiwo Soweto, spokesperson of #EndBadGovernance Movement Lagos, and Dele Frank (Arole Fela), a musician, by the Lagos State Police Command over their participation in a peaceful protest against the unjust demolition of and forced eviction of poor people from their homes by the Lagos State Government on January 28, 2026. I understand that their trial was adjourned until April 24, 2026, at the Magistrate Court Yaba Lagos.
I believe that the trial is an attempt to legalize attacks on democratic rights, stifle dissent and criminalise peaceful protest. Protests are a part of the fabric of democratic rights that people have won over many years. I understand that even as recent as July 24, 2025, a Federal High Court in Lagos in a judgement against the Nigerian Police and Lagos State Government reaffirmed the fundamental rights of people to freedom of assembly including protest and indeed awarded a sum of N10 million against the Nigerian police to be paid to the applicants as damages. Instructively, Hassan Taiwo Soweto was one of the applicants. The applicants had been brutally arrested and detained for holding a peaceful protest on October 20, 2024 to mark the 4th anniversary of the #EndSARS massacre. So, I call on the Nigerian police and the Lagos State Government to end their habitual attacks on democratic rights and respect the rights of people to peaceful protest.
I also condemn the brutalization and torture of Hassan Taiwo Soweto by the men of the Lagos State Police Command, inflicting him with serious damage on his lower back, for playing a leading role in the January 28 protest. I find it seriously disturbing the grave allegation that the physical assault was personally supervised by the Commissioner of Police Jimoh Moshood. We demand a public probe of this bestial action of the police by an independent panel that must include representatives of the Nigerian Bar Association, Nigerian Medical Association, trade unions, civil society and media.
I demand immediate release of the items unlawfully seized by the police at the January 28 anti-demolition protest. These include the equipment of the DJ hired by the protesters namely public address system, laptop computer, generator, etc. Also, callously impounded was a First Aid Box. By this unlawful action, the police have heartlessly deprived the owners of the items their livelihoods since January 28.
Until the above demands are met, I will continue to lend my support for the demands in the media and among the millions of working people and youth, trade unions, human right organisations and parliamentarians of good conscience, locally and internationally.
Signed
Yours sincerely,
Richard Janda
Associate Professor
