By Abiodun Taiwo, Abeokuta with agency reports
Three different Courts on Wednesday restricted participants in the August 1 #EndBadGovernance protest to specific locations in the Federal Capital Territory, Ogun and Kwara states.
In Abuja, a Federal Capital Territory ( FCT) high court restricted participants in the August 1, protest to the MKO Abiola stadium, also known as National Stadium.
Justice Sylvanus Oriji issued the order on Wednesday in Abuja while ruling in an ex-parte application brought before him by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.
In the ex-parte application argued by Ogwu Onoja, SAN, the FCT Minister had applied for an order of 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 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 protesting leaders 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 capitalise on the planned protest to cause havoc.
He added they may cause irreparable damages 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 recognised 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.
“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.
He added that the protest did not negatively or adversely affect the rights of other citizens to move about and to ensure that property and other public facilities are not destroyed,” the judge held.
He, therefore, ordered the 1st to 5th respondents to “use the Moshood Abiola Stadium” only for the protest.
Meanwhile, the court ordered the service of processes in the suit as well as the confinement order on the respondents by placing same on the newspapers.
Defendants in the suit are Omoyele Sowore, Damilare Adenola, Adama Ukpabi, Tosin Harsogba, persons unknown, Inspector General IG of Police, Commissioner of Police.
Others are 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.
Oriji subsequently adjourned hearing until August 13.
In Ogun, a State High Court on Wednesday ordered the sponsors of the #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protests to limit their activities to four locations in the state.
The court also restricted the time frame of the protests to between 8 am and 5 pm.
Granting an application moved by the State’s Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Oluwasina Ogungbade (SAN), Justice O. 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 judge prohibited the protesters from protesting anywhere in the state except at the MKO Stadium, Abeokuta; Ansar-ud-Deen Comprehensive High School, Ota; Remo Divisional High School, Sagamu; and Dipo Dina Stadium, Ijebu-Ode.
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.
The judge, in his ruling, also prohibited any protest from taking place outside the hours of 8 am to 5 pm.
The judge further directed the Commissioner of Police in Ogun State to enforce the order and ensure that the protests are held 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 6 August 2024.
In Kwara, Chief Magistrate Jibril Bio Salihu of an Ilorin court has ordered organisers of the August 1 protest to restrict themselves to the Metropolitan Square in Ilorin, the state capital.
Granting an exparte order on Wednesday, July 31, 2024, the court said it agreed with the Attorney General of the state and Commissioner for Justice Bar. Senior Ibrahim Sulyman that such a protest could degenerate into violence if protesters are allowed to do as they wish.
The respondents in the case are the Director State Security Service, Kwara State; Commissioner of Police, Kwara State Command; the Commandant, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corp; Take-It-Back Movement; Mr. Buhari Olanrewaju Ahmed; and unknown persons.
“After listening to Senior Ibrahim Sulyman Esq., Attorney General of Kwara State, the applicant herein and after a careful perusal of the 5 paragraphs affidavit as well as the written address in support of the motion ex-parte, the following orders are hereby granted,” according to the order signed by Chief Magistrate (DCR Litigation) Jibril Bio Salihu.
“An order of interim injunction restraining the 4th-6th respondents whether by themselves, agents, privies, servants or any other person(s) acting through them to converge, carry, conduct any act or form of their proposed peaceful public protest, rallies, processions and or meetings in any other place other than Metropolitan Square/Asa Dam Road, Kwara State in the interest of the general public for a period of 7 days, effective from the 1st August, 2024.
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“It is also ordered that the 1st-3rd respondents are directed to provide adequate security for the protection of lives and properties of all citizens and residents of Kwara State, as well as the infrastructure provided by the Kwara State Government against the 4th-6th respondents act, protest, or any form of protest for a period of 7days effective from the 1st August, 2024 or any other day pending the determination of the motion on notice.
“It is also ordered that all the court processes filed in respect of this suit be served on the 4th-6th respondents by pasting same at the High Court of Justice premises.”
The court adjourned further hearings in the case to 14th of August, 2024.
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