The trial of rights activists Hassan Taiwo, popularly known as “Soweto,” and Dele Frank was stalled on Monday after police failed to appear before the Yaba Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.
The development came as the court was informed that the police had only partially complied with an earlier order directing them to return property seized during a January 28, 2026 protest by residents of Makoko, Otumara, Owode Onirin and other waterfront communities.
Defence counsel, O. C. Olagunju, told Magistrate I. O. Alaka that although several items had been returned, the police were yet to produce a laptop allegedly seized from the disc jockey who participated in the protest.
Soweto and Frank are facing a five-count charge bordering on alleged unlawful assembly and the singing of abusive songs against the police and the Lagos State Government.
The charges arose from the protest held outside the Lagos State House of Assembly over alleged demolition and displacement of residents of waterfront communities.
The defendants were arrested after the police dispersed the protesters with tear gas. Several items belonging to the protesters were also taken away during the incident.
Among the property seized were a Dell laptop, loudspeakers, generators, a channel mixer, wired and wireless microphones, stabiliser amplifier, power amplifier, table fan, extension boxes, loudspeaker cables and a laptop bag.
The bag reportedly contained an ATM card, external hard drive, cables, cords, Bluetooth earbuds, headphones, wireless microphone, wallet containing at least N40,000 and another wallet containing N23,000.
Other seized property included two first aid bags and other personal belongings.
At the previous hearing on May 8, 2026, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, secured an order directing the police to return the seized belongings as part of efforts to pave the way for the substantive trial.
However, when the matter came up on Monday, neither the police nor their witnesses were in court.
Olagunju expressed concern over the development, pointing out that the matter had been adjourned specifically for the commencement of trial.
He told the court that the defence would consider applying for the case to be struck out if the police again failed to appear on the next date.
The lawyer also informed the court that the police had returned most of the seized property on Friday, August 28, but claimed that officers were still searching for the laptop.
He therefore sought an adjournment to allow the police locate and produce the missing item before the trial could commence.
Magistrate Alaka granted the application and adjourned the matter until October 26, 2026.
Speaking with journalists after the proceedings, Soweto criticised the police for failing to attend court, describing their absence as an indication that the case against the defendants was weak.
He alleged that the protesters were subjected to excessive force during the January demonstration.
“Several protesters were injured, about five, and two of them had to be hospitalised for several days. Protesters also lost purses, money and personal belongings. It was a real attack on the right to freedom of protest in Lagos State,” he said.
Soweto said the defence would seek to have the case dismissed if the police continued to fail to appear.
“Our lawyer has told the court that if this absence persists on the next adjourned date, we will move an application to have this case struck out. This trial is a waste of taxpayers’ money, our time and the court’s time,” he said.
On the seized property, the activist said between 80 and 90 per cent of the items had now been recovered.
“We have taken possession of at least 80 to 90 per cent of those seized items. A bag here is filled with slippers and shoes of protesters, some just half of a pair. That gives an idea of the onslaught launched against us,” he said.
According to him, the outstanding laptop was particularly important because it belonged to the DJ who provided entertainment at the protest.
“What is missing right now is the laptop belonging to our DJ. It is a very costly laptop, and they claim they are still looking for it. The police are supposed to be an elite crime-fighting organisation. For them to say a laptop disappeared from their storeroom is not something we agree with,” Soweto said.
He added that the seizure had affected the DJ’s means of livelihood because he had been without his equipment since the January protest.
“Since January 28, that DJ has been without the tools with which he seeks his livelihood. They released the sound system, but without the laptop, it’s as good as releasing nothing. We are calling on officials at Panti Police Station and the new Lagos Police Commissioner to return it immediately,” he said.
Soweto also reiterated the protesters’ opposition to what he described as an urban development agenda that could displace low-income residents, arguing that the transformation of Lagos into a megacity should not come at the expense of working-class communities.
