Justice Sylvanus Oriji of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja has restricted the August 1 protest to the MKO Abiola Stadium in the nation’s capital.
On Wednesday, Justice Oriji delivered this ruling in response to an ex-parte application filed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike. The FCT Minister, represented by counsel Ogwu Onoja, sought an interim injunction to prevent the five leaders of the protesting groups from gathering or parading along any roadways, streets, offices, or public premises within the FCT from August 1 to August 10, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice. Additionally, the minister requested that security agencies be mandated to prevent these leaders from organizing any such gatherings during the specified period.
Minister Wike claimed that while the Federal Government did not oppose the protest, intelligence reports suggested that some protest leaders intended to exploit the demonstration to cause chaos, damage public facilities, and disrupt public peace by blocking roads. He further asserted that security agencies had informed him they were not adequately equipped to manage any potential crises arising from the protest on short notice.
In his ruling, Justice Oriji acknowledged the protesters’ rights but restricted the protest to the stadium due to the minister’s expressed concerns. He stated, “In light of the above, the court considers it appropriate and expedient to grant an order 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.” Consequently, he ordered the respondents to confine their protest to the Moshood Abiola Stadium.
The court also mandated that the service of processes and the confinement order be published in newspapers. The defendants in the suit include Omoyele Sowore, Damilare Adenola, Adama Ukpabi, Tosin Harsogba, persons unknown, the Inspector General of Police, the Commissioner of Police, the Director General of the State Security Service, the Director General of the Nigeria Civil Defense Corps, the Chief of Army Staff, the Chief of Air Staff, and the Chief of Naval Staff.