Justice Sylvanus Oriji of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja has limited demonstrators in the August 1 demonstration to the MKO Abiola Stadium in the nation’s capital.
Justice Oriji delivered the order on Wednesday while ruling on an ex parte application filed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.
In the exparte application argued by his counsel, Ogwu Onoja, the FCT Minister sought an order of interim injunction prohibiting the five leaders of the protesting groups from gathering or parading themselves along any roadway, streets, offices, or public premises within the FCT from August 1 to August 10, or any other day thereafter, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.
He also requested an additional order of interim injunction directing security services to ban protesting leaders from gathering or parading themselves along any roads, offices, or public premises in the FCT between August 1 and 10, pending the hearing of his move on notice.
The minister, who stated that the Federal Government was not opposed to the protest, claimed that intelligence and security reports received by him indicated that some elements within the protesters’ leadership intend to capitalise on the planned protest by causing havoc and irreparable damage to public facilities, as well as blocking roadways to prevent movement of people and vehicles and disturbing public peace.
He stated that when he contacted security services to guarantee that the planned protest did not devolve into crime and disruption of public peace and order, he was advised that they were not well-equipped to handle any crisis that might occur as a result of the scheduled protest on short notice.
In his verdict, Justice Oriji recognised the demonstrators’ freedom to protest, but limited them to the stadium due to the minister’s genuine fears.
“In the light of the above, the court considers it appropriate and expedient to grant an order under the omnibus or general prayer to ensure that the rights of the protesters are guaranteed and that the protest does not negatively or adversely affect the rights of other citizens to move about and to ensure that properties and other public facilities are not destroyed,” the judge held.
He so directed the first through fifth respondents to “use the Moshood Abiola Stadium” only for the demonstration.
Meanwhile, the court ordered that the processes in the complaint, as well as the confinement order, be served on the respondents by publication in newspapers.
Omoyele Sowore, Damilare Adenola, Adama Ukpabi, Tosin Harsogba, persons unknown, Inspector General of Police, Commissioner of Police, Director General of the State Security Service, Director General of the Nigeria Civil Defence Corps, Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Air Staff, and Chief of Naval Staff are the first through twelfth respondents to the suit.
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