EndBadGovernance; Court Extends Order Restricting Abuja Protesters To National Stadium

A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory presided over by Justice Sylvanus Oriji has extended the order restricting participants in the #EndBadGovernance protest against the Federal Government to the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja.

Justice Oriji extended the order on Tuesday following an application to that effect argued by Dr Ogwu James Onoja SAN on behalf of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike.

At the proceedings, all 11 defendants were absent in court and were not represented by any legal practitioner. But the FCT minister through his lawyer drew the attention of the judge to a statement issued by one  Damilare Adenola where she threatened that the nationwide protests may be extended beyond the initial 10 days.

The counsel argued that since they were not in court and no one knew their next plan of action, it would be to extend the order to ensure that the peace of the FCT is not unjustly disrupted.

In a brief ruling, the judge granted the request and affirmed that the order of July 31, 2024, remains valid and in force.

The judge subsequently fixed August 22, 2024, for hearing of the motion on notice.

Justice Oriji had on July 31 In an ex-parte application argued by Onoja, on behalf of the FCT Minister applied for an order of interim injunction restraining the five leaders of the protesting groups from gathering or parading themselves along any road, 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 had also applied for another order of interim injunction mandating the security agencies to prevent the protesting leaders from gathering or parading themselves along any road, 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 and irreparable damage to the public facilities and blocking of roadways to prevent movement of persons and vehicles and disturb public peace.