Popular comedian Debo Adebayo, popularly known as Mr Macaroni has been granted bail along with some other Lekki toll gate protesters.

Mr. Macaroni earlier on Saturday had been arrested, along with others, by the police for protesting at the toll gate.

The protesters were railing against the decision of the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry to reopen the toll gate, which was symbolic of last October’s #EndSARS protests.

On October 20, military officials opened fire at peaceful protesters gathered at the toll.

Although the Nigerian government and military have denied any wrongdoing, critics say it is premature to reopen the toll gate until all investigations are concluded.

“The Protesters arrested have all been granted bail including Mr Macaroni,” Moe Odele, an #EndSARS lawyer said on Twitter.

She added that all the protesters were charged by the police for breaking COVID-19 gathering limits and disobeying an order not to protest.

They all pleaded ”not guilty”, she said. “One of them is injured and will get medical attention.”

Spokesman for the Lagos State Police Command, Muyiwa Adejobi, made this known in a statement on Saturday evening.

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 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 breach of public peace without due regard for COVID-19 protocols major of which are 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.”

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 the October 20 2020 #EndSARS protest allegedly shot at the toll plaza.

Many civil rights organisation including Amnesty International have demanded the release of Mr 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.

The protesters were brought before a Lagos State Magistrate Court in Yaba on a two count charge of alledged conspiracy, breach of public peace and flouting of COVID-19 protocols.

Recall that the government and police authorities had on Thursday warned residents of the State against any protest or infraction of COVID-19 protocols in the State.

But in the early hours of today, protesters trickled in and around the Lekki Toll Gate Plaza to protest what they perceived as injustice, following the ruling of the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry against Police Brutality and other abuses.

Upon their arraignment, the defendant were granted bail in the sum of N100,000 each.

Some of the defendants are; Answer Harrison, Adekanbi Kayode, Yemi Orungbamila, Anjorin Joseph Seye, Paul Terkuma.

Also, Dayo Keshinro, Belema Briggs, Anisere Sodiq, Olanrewaju Olonta, Damilare Adenola, among others.

Count one of the charge reads, “That you the above named defendants on the 13th of February, 2021 at Lekki Toll Plaza in the Yaba Magisterial District did conspired among yourselves to commit a misdemeanour to wit conduct likely to cause a breach of the peace and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 412 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

“That you the above named defendants on the 13th of February, 2021 at Lekki Toll Plaza in the Yaba Magisterial District being a public place, gathered yourselves to harass and causing unnecessary alarm and panic in a manner likely to cause a breach of the peace and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 168 (1) (e) and punishable under Section 168 (2) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

While count two reads, “That you the above named defendants on the 13th of February, 2021 at Lekki Toll Plaza in the Yaba Magisterial District did fail to comply with the Restriction/Prohibition Quarantine Law which prohibit any social gathering to avoid spreading and contacting of Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19) and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 5 of the Quarantine Act Q2 Law of Federal Republic of Nigeria, 2004 as domesticated under Public Health Law CH: P: Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.