A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory has restricted participants in the protest against the federal government to the MKO Abiola Stadium, also known as the National Stadium.
POLITICS NIGERIA reports that the hunger protest is scheduled for August 1.
Justice Sylvanus Oriji issued the order on Wednesday in Abuja, while delivering a ruling in an ex-parte application brought by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.
The minister had applied for an order of interim injunction restraining the protest leaders from gathering or parading themselves along any roadway, streets, offices, and public premises within the FCT.
The court’s decision was influenced by the minister’s claims that intelligence and security reports indicated some elements within the leadership of the protesters intend to cause havoc and irreparable damage to public facilities.
The minister also tendered an exhibit from the “Take it Back Movement, FCT”, which threatened to invade the Presidential Villa and pull down the outer wires facing the Aso Rock villa during the protest.
Justice Oriji recognized the rights of the protesters to embark on the protest but restricted them to the stadium due to genuine fears expressed by the minister.
“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.
The court ordered the respondents to use the Moshood Abiola Stadium only for the protest and directed the service of processes in the suit, as well as the confinement order, on the respondents through newspaper publications.
The defendants in the suit include Omoyele Sowore, Damilare Adenola, Adama Ukpabi, Tosin Harsogba, and security chiefs.
