Wike Gets Court Order To Keep Protesters Out Of Abuja Roads

A Federal Capital Territory High Court presided over by Justice Sylvanus Oriji has restricted the August 1 protest to the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abuja, following an ex-parte application by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike. 

The minister, represented by counsel Ogwu Onoja, sought an interim injunction to prevent leaders of five protest groups from gathering or marching on any roads, streets, offices, or public premises within the FCT from August 1 to 10, or any subsequent date, until the motion on notice is heard.

Wike sought an interim injunction to prevent protest leaders from gathering or parading in the FCT from August 1 to 10, and also requested that security agencies be ordered to stop the protests during this period. 

Although the Federal Government acknowledged the right to protest, the minister expressed concerns based on intelligence reports suggesting potential exploitation by some leaders to cause public disorder, damage property, and obstruct roadways. 

The minister claimed that security agencies lacked sufficient resources to prevent potential chaos on short notice. Justice Oriji’s ruling balanced the protesters’ rights with the minister’s valid concerns, restricting the protest to the MKO Abiola Stadium.

“In light of the above, the court finds it necessary to grant an order under the omnibus or general prayer to ensure that the protesters’ rights are protected while preventing any negative impact on other citizens’ rights to move freely and safeguarding public property and facilities from destruction,” the judge stated.

In his ruling, Justice Oriji directed the first to fifth respondents – including Omoyele Sowore, Damilare Adenola, Adama Ukpabi, Tosin Harsogba, and others – to limit their protest to the Moshood Abiola Stadium. 

The court also ordered that the lawsuit’s documents and the confinement order be served to the respondents through newspaper publications. 

The respondents in the case include the protest leaders, as well as various security chiefs, namely the Inspector General of Police, Commissioner of Police, Director General of the State Security Service, Director General of the Nigeria Civil Defense Corps, Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Air Staff, and Chief of Naval Staff, listed as the first to twelfth respondents.

With additional reports from SaharaReporters

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