Two courts – High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Ogun State High Court – yesterday granted orders restricting promoters of the planned protest from marching through the streets.
Justice Sylvanus Oriji of the FCT High Court granted an order limiting the protesters’ activities to the Moshood Abiola National Stadium.
In Abeokuta, Justice O. Ogunfowora of the State High Court ordered protesters to limit their activities to four locations.
The approved centres in Ogun are: MKO Stadium, Abeokuta; Ansar-ud-Deen Comprehensive High School, Ota; Remo Divisional High School, Sagamu; and Dipo Dina Stadium, Ijebu-Ode
Both orders were given yesterday.
A Lagos High Court on Monday gave an order restricting protesters to Freedom Park, Ojota and Peace Park in Ketu.
In the ex parte application argued in the FCT court by Chief Ogwu James Onoja, SAN, the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike applied for an order of interim injunction restraining the five leaders of the protesting groups from gathering or parading themselves on any roadway, streets, offices and public premises within the FCT between August 1 to August 10, or any other day thereafter, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.
He also applied for another order of interim injunction mandating the security agencies to prevent the protesters from gathering or parading themselves along any roadway, offices or public premises within the FCT between August 1 and 10, pending the hearing of his motion on notice.
The minister who said that the federal government was not averse to the protest claimed that intelligence and security reports reaching him indicated that some elements within the leadership of the protesters intend to capitalize on the planned protest to cause havoc and irreparable damage to public facilities and blocking of roadways to prevent movement of persons and vehicles and disturb public peace.
He claimed that when he contacted the security agencies to ensure that the planned protest did not degenerate into criminality and disturbance of public peace and order, he was told that they are not well-equipped to manage any crisis that may arise from the planned protest at a short notice hence they advised him that prevention is better than cure.
The minister tendered an exhibit from the “Take it Back Movement, FCT”, signed by one Damilare Adenola, in which they threatened to invade the Presidential Villa and also threatened to pull down the outer wires facing the Aso Rock villa during the protest
Besides, they demanded that the FCT provide them light as well as toilet during the duration of the protest.
In his ruling, Justice Oriji, who recognized the rights of the protesters to embark on the protest, however restricted them to the Stadium in view of the genuine fears expressed by the minister.
The Judge said: “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.”
He therefore ordered the 1st to 5th respondents to “use the Moshood Abiola Stadium” only for the protest.
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Defendants in the suit are: Omoyele Sowore, Damilare Adenola, Adama Ukpabi, Tosin Harsogba, persons unknown, Inspector-General (IG) of Police, Commissioner of Police, Director General of the State Security Service, Director General, Nigeria Civil Defense Corps, Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Air staff, Chief of Naval Staff as 1st to 12th respondents.
In Abeokuta, the court restricted the protesters to the four venues between 8am and 5pm.
Granting an application moved by the State’s Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Oluwasina Ogungbade (SAN), Justice Ogunfowora directed that all protests under the #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria slogan or any other slogan from 1 August 2024 to 10 August 2024 must be limited in place and time.
The Attorney-General explained that the four locations are across the four divisions of the state in the three senatorial districts, allowing protesters in those vicinities to conveniently participate in the protests under adequate protection and without infringing on the rights of any non-protesting members of the public.
In his ruling, the Judge also prohibited any protest from taking place outside the hours of 8am to 5pm.
The judge further directed the Commissioner of Police in Ogun State to enforce the order and ensure that the protests hold only in the specified locations and during the time periods stated in the order.
The judge declared that the order would last for seven days and ordered the state to serve the application on notice within that period.
Justice Ogunfowora shortened the time for the protesters to respond to the application to 72 hours.
The case was adjourned to August 6.