Lagos Police Announces Release of Mr Macaroni, Other Protesters

The Lagos Police Command has announced the release of popular comedian Debo Adebayo, also known as Mr Macaroni; and 39 other arrested #OccupyLekki protesters on bail.

This was contained in a statement issued by the spokesman for the Lagos State Police Command, Muyiwa Adejobi, on Saturday evening, February 13.

He said, “The command has arrested forty (40) suspects at Lekki Toll Gate plaza, Lagos State, on Saturday 13th February 2021; for conspiracy, conduct likely to cause a breach of peace and violation of COVID-19 protocols.

“The suspects had gathered at the Lekki Toll Gate plaza creating tension; and behaving in such a manner that could cause a breach of public peace; without due regard for COVID-19 protocols major of which are the use of nose masks and social distancing.

“The command has, however, arraigned the suspects today to the mobile court at Panti, Yaba accordingly; but were however granted bail by the court. They will appear in court on the next date of adjournment, 2nd March 2021, with the certificate of COVID-19 test.

“The command, therefore, assured the general public that it will always discharge its statutory duties as expected within the ambit of the law while appealing to Lagosians to be law-abiding and go about their lawful businesses.”

We earlier reported that Mr Macaroni and the other protesters were arrested on Saturday for protesting at the Lekki toll gate where he demanded that justice be served to the victims of October 20, 2020, #EndSARS protest allegedly shot at the toll plaza.

Furthermore, many civil rights organisation including Amnesty International demanded the release of Macaroni and the other detained protesters.

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project had also threatened to pursue legal actions if the arrested protesters are not immediately and unconditionally released.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, on Friday, February 12, described the ongoing revalidation/registration of the All Progressives Congress as an opportunity to clean up the party.

Fashola made this assertion during the revalidation of his APC membership card in Lagos.

The Minister said the exercise would address the frequent appointment of dead people by the regime of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Since assuming office in 2015, Buhari has made six posthumous appointments; most of whom were in 2017, and later in 2020.

Fashola said, “You will see, in the past, we have had some unfortunate incidents; where, perhaps, some people were appointed, only for us to find out that they are deceased. So, this is also an opportunity to clean up because there are opportunities also as a member of a party that forms a government.

“And we need to know who is where; we also need to know what party members do. So, if I am a party member and want to host an event; I can look in my party’s database and see who does event planning, who does catering, and we share prosperity.”