FCT Court Extends Order Restricting Hunger Protesters To MKO Abiola Stadium

Three days after the nationwide protests against #Badgovernance, Hunger, High Cost of Living, Corruption, a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, on Tuesday, August 13, 2024, granted an extension order restricting the protesters to the MKO Abiola National Stadium.

The Court presided over by Justice Sylvanus Oriji, granted the extension following an application brought before him by Dr Ogwu James Onoja, SAN, on behalf of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike.

At the Tuesday’s Court proceedings, none of the 11 defendants was present in court just as they were not represented by any legal counsel.

The FCT Minister through his legal Counsel, referred the Court to a statement issued by one Damilare Adenola in which she declared that the nationwide protests may be extended beyond the initial 10 days.

Counsel to the FCT Minister, Onoja argued that since the defendants were not in court and no one knows their next plan of action, it would be in order to extend the order to ensure that the peace and tranquillity of the FCT was not unjustly disrupted.

In granting the prayers of the FCT Minister through his counsel, Onaja, the trial Judge, Justice Oriji, ruled that the order of July 31, remained valid and in force and subsequently fixed August 22, for hearing of the motion on notice.

The Court had on July 31, 2024, in an ex-parte application by the Minister of the FCT for an order of interim injunction restraining the five leaders of the Nationwide protests, which was argued by Onoja, SAN, granted an order stopping the Protest organisers from protesting in any of the roadways, 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.

The FCT Minister through his Counsel, had also applied for an order of interim injunction mandating security agencies to prevent the protesting leaders from gathering or protesting 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 had told the Court that while the federal government was not averse to the protest, however said that intelligence and security reports at his disposal, indicated that some elements within the leadership of the organisers of the nationwide protests intended to capitalize on the planned protest to cause havoc and irreparable damages to public facilities and blocking of roadways to prevent movement of persons and vehicles and thereby disturb public peace.