Justice Sylvanus Oriji of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja, Nigeria has issued an order restricting protesters in the August 1 demonstration to the MKO Abiola Stadium. The ruling came in response to an ex-parte application filed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.
The minister, represented by his counsel Ogwu Onoja, sought an interim injunction to prevent the leaders of the protesting groups from gathering or parading in any public places within the FCT from August 1 to August 10. He expressed concerns based on intelligence reports that some protest leaders might use the event to incite violence and disrupt public order.
Justice Oriji acknowledged the protesters’ rights but emphasized the necessity of balancing these rights with public safety and the protection of public properties. Therefore, he ordered that the protest be confined to the Moshood Abiola Stadium to mitigate potential risks.
The court also mandated that the injunction and related documents be served on the respondents through newspaper publication. The defendants in the case include notable figures like Omoyele Sowore and Damilare Adenola, along with various security chiefs and agencies.
