A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory has restricted participants in the planned August 1 hunger protest against the federal government to the MKO Abiola Stadium, also known as the National Stadium.
Justice Sylvanus Oriji issued the order on Wednesday in Abuja while delivering a ruling in an ex-parte application brought before him by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
In the ex-parte application argued by Ogwu James Onoja, the FCT Minister sought an interim injunction restraining the five leaders of the protesting groups from gathering or parading themselves along any roadway, streets, offices, and public premises within the FCT between August 1 and 10, or any other day thereafter, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.
The minister also applied for an order mandating security agencies to prevent the protesting leaders from gathering or parading themselves in these areas.
The minister claimed that while the federal government was not opposed to the protest, intelligence and security reports indicated that some elements within the leadership of the protesters intended to use the protest to cause havoc, damage public facilities, block roadways, and disturb public peace.
He stated that security agencies had advised that they were not well-equipped to manage any crisis arising from the planned protest at short notice, suggesting that prevention was better than cure.
The minister presented an exhibit from the “Take it Back Movement, FCT,” signed by Damilare Adenola, which threatened to invade the Presidential Villa and pull down the outer wires facing the Aso Rock villa during the protest.
Additionally, the protesters demanded that the FCT provide them with light and toilets for the duration of the protest.
In his ruling, Justice Oriji acknowledged the rights of the protesters to demonstrate but restricted them to the stadium due to the genuine concerns expressed by the minister.
“In 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.
Justice Oriji therefore ordered the respondents to “use the Moshood Abiola Stadium” only for the protest. The court also ordered the service of processes in the suit as well as the confinement order on the respondents by placing the same in the newspapers.
Defendants in the suit are 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 Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Air Staff, and Chief of Naval Staff as the 1st to 12th respondents.
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