Posted by Participants in the August 1 hunger strike against the federal government have been restricted to the MKO Abiola stadium, also known as the National Stadium, according to a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory.
In a verdict on an ex-parte application presented to him by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Justice Sylvanus Oriji made the order on Wednesday in Abuja.
Chief Ogwu James Onoja argued an ex parte application on behalf of the FCT Minister, who had previously asked for an interim injunction prohibiting the five protest group leaders from congregating or parading themselves on any public or private property in the FCT from August 1st through the 10th, or any day after that, until the motion is heard and decided.
Prior to the hearing of his application on notice, he sought an additional order of interim injunction directing the security authorities to stop the leaders of the demonstration from congregating or parading themselves along any road, office, or public property within the FCT from August 1 to 10.
The minister stated that the federal government was not opposed to the protest. However, he asserted that intelligence and security reports that reached him suggested that certain members of the protest leaders were plotting to use the event to their advantage by destroying public facilities, blocking roads to prevent people and vehicles from moving, and causing public unrest.
According to him, the security agencies told him that prevention is better than cure because they aren’t prepared to handle any crisis that may arise from the planned protest on short notice. This was in response to his concerns that the demonstration could turn violent or disrupt public order.
During the rally, members of the “Take it Back Movement, FCT”—signed by Damilare Adenola—threatened to storm the Presidential residence and cut the outside wires that faced the Aso Rock residence, according to an exhibit that the minister presented.
In addition, they wanted the FCT to supply them with lighting and restrooms while they were protesting.
Justice Oriji limited the demonstrators to the stadium in his ruling, despite acknowledging their right to protest, due to the minister’s legitimate concerns.
The judge ruled that it was necessary to issue an omnibus order protecting the protesters’ rights while also preventing the destruction of public property and other public facilities and ensuring that the protest would not infringe on the rights of other citizens to freely move about.
As a result, he specifically instructed the first five respondents to “use the Moshood Abiola Stadium” for the demonstration.
In the meanwhile, the court had the respondents served with the confinement order and litigation papers through newspaper delivery.
Omoyele Sowore, Damilare Adenola, Adama Ukpabi, Tosin Harsogba, unidentified persons, the 1st to 12th respondents, the Director General of the State Security Service, the Director General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, the Chief of Army Staff, the Chief of Air Staff, and the Chief of Naval Staff are all named as defendants in the suit.