Buhari’s Lagos visit: Lagos CP threatens to arrest Ikeja NBA Chairman, others over plan to stage Land Use Charge protest on Thursday

OREDOLA ADEOLA

 Few hours to the proposed visit of President Muhammadu Buhari to Lagos state for a two days official visit, the Ikeja branch of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) and other civil society groups have vowed not to back out in the plan to stage a protest, demanding for the cancellation of new Land Use Charge recently introduced by the Lagos state Government, despite threat by the Police authorities.

The NBA rejected the 50 per cent reduction of the Land Use Charge recently reviewed by the Lagos State Government, revealing that the government is not sincere about the downward review of the charge and that the reduction by the Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode led-administration is “unacceptable”.

Adeshina Ogunlana, Chairman, NBA ,Ikeja Branch said, "The upward review is something that came with by law and cannot be reviewed downward like that. Until the law is reviewed, we are not going to accept it. The reduction is arbitrary and illegal.

“ We need a total reduction of the rates. Everybody knew how difficult it is to get money under the present harsh economy. So, the government should consider total reduction," he revealed.

Ogunlana, shortly after a press conference on Wednesday, over the proposed protest,  revealed that over 30 police men laid siege at his office insisting on arresting him on allegation of threatening public peace.

The NBA Chairman said armed policemen of no fewer than 30 had laid siege at his office with a letter, compelling him to appear before a Deputy Commissioner of Police as directed by the state Commissioner of Police, Edgar Imohimi.

In the letter, Ogunlana said he was being harassed to either report honourably or be forced to honour the invitation already slated for 7p.m. with the Deputy Commissioner.

He however vowed that there was no going back on the planned protest, noting that the demand of the association was clear on the LUC

Consequently, the Lagos State Police Commissioner, issued a statement warning Mr. Ogunlana and other  groups wanting to protest to jettison the idea or be arrested and prosecuted.

In a statement released by SP Chike Oti Police Public Relations Officer, Lagos State Police Command, said that the CP believes that the planned protest by the NBA is the handiwork of mischief makers who are using the NBA as a launching pad to possibly compromise the security emplaced for the presidential visit.

The CP said that it was baffling that the same NBA whose right to protest has never been denied planning to use the occasion of the President's visit to protest and disrupt the event and by extension compromise the security of the President.

The State Police Command stated that it will not tolerate any protest from the NBA or from any group or individual for that matter during the visit of the President whom Lagosians are ready to receive warmly.

The CP observed that out of all the NBA branches in Lagos, it is only the Ikeja branch that has been using the option of protesters and civil disobedience despite several options available to it.

Mr. Imohimi also added that the intelligence reports showed that the Chairman of the NBA is a pawn in the hands of some disgruntled politicians.