Lagos State Denies Banning Okada

Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Ade Ipaye, has said the state government has neither banned nor restricted the movement of commercial motorcyclists in the state.

Ipaye said this at a Federal High Court, Ikeja, on Monday in his reply to a suit filed by four motorcycle operators' associations.

The okada riders, through their counsel, Mr. Bamidele Aturu, had sued the state government and the Attorney-General over their proposed plan to ban or restrict their operations in the state.

Justice Steven Adah has adjourned till May 4 for judgment in the suit after hearing parties in the suit on Monday.

However, contrary to the claim by the plaintiffs that the government was already seizing their motorcycles and restricting their operations in some parts of the state, Ipaye said, "that has not taken place."

The plaintiffs, who accused the government of "incessant seizures or forcible possession of our motorcycles," are asking the court to declare that such act is an infringement on their rights.