The Lagos State Government has denied threatening the Landmark Events Centre to deny organisers of the #ENDSARS memorial access to the venue for the anniversary protest.
Information Commissioner Gbenga Omotoso dismissed the allegation during the Arise Morning Show’s interview on one year anniversary of #ENDSARS protest.
Music star, Folarin Falana alias Falz, had taken to his verified social media platforms to accuse the government of forcing owners of the centre to disallow activists from holding their event there.
According to him, they were told that the orders came from above and their reservation cancelled despite the fact that they had paid for use of the event centre.
Addressing the issue, Omotoso said Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu never issued such an order, adding that a call was placed to one Mr. Paul of Landmark and he categorically said he has not spoken to the Governor in months.
Omotoso said: “Some guys organising the #EndSARS memorial protest came to see the governor some days ago and complained that they were being blocked from holding the event at Landmark Centre.
“The governor immediately put a call through to the manager of the event centre, one Mr Paul.
“The man stated that the governor never issued such order, adding that they had not spoken for several months. This was to the hearing of the protest organisers that came to make the complaint. They even recorded the call to go and play for the others.
“We did not order any event centre not to allow them hold their memorial protest.”
Omotoso also said the government was not averse to the right of Nigerians to peaceful protest, adding that he spoke with the Commissioner of Police (CP) Hakeem Odumosu on the need for operatives to conduct themselves well.
He condemned harassment of journalists at the scene, noting that if it did happen, it was condemnable.
The Commissioner said despite the pains the police felt and losses incurred last year, it didn’t give them right to harass any journalist or citizen.
