Participants in the nationwide protests in Abuja have been limited to the MKO Abiola Stadium, also known as National Stadium. A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory gave the ex-parte order on Wednesday, July 31, 2024.

Justice Sylvanus Oriji handed out the order on Wednesday in Abuja while delivering a ruling in an ex-parte application brought before him by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Barr. Nyesom Wike.

In the ex parte application argued by Chief Ogwu James Onoja, 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 and 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, office or public premises within the FCT between August 1 and 10, pending the hearing of his motion on notice.

The Minister stated that the Federal Government was not against the protest, asserted that intelligence and security reports at his disposal showed that some elements within the leadership of the protesters intend to use the planned protest to cause mayhem and unredeemable damage to public facilities and block roadways to prevent movement of persons and vehicles and disturb public peace.

He argued 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 were not well equipped to manage any crisis that may arise from the planned protest at 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

Similarly, they requested that the FCT provide them with light as well as toilets during the duration of the protest.

Justice Oriji, in his ruling, affirmed the rights of the protesters to embark on the protest, restricted them to the stadium because 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 and that the protest does not negatively or adversely affect the rights of other citizens to move about and to ensure that properties 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 the same in 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, Director General of the State Security Service, Commandant General, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Air Staff, and Chief of Naval Staff as 1st to 12th respondents.

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