How Wike’s Kinsman Restricted Abuja Protesters With Court Order
It has been revealed that Justice Sylvanus Oriji of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja, who gave the order restricting protesters of the just concluded #EndBadGovernance demonstration to MKO Abiola Stadium, Abuja, is a kinsman of the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.
According to Chidi Odinkalu, human rights activist, and former Chairman of Nigeria’s National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Justice Oriji hails from the same Obi Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, like the immediate past governor of the oil-rich state.
Odinkalu, who is a Professor of Practice in International Human Rights Law at the Fletcher School at Tufts University, drew the public attention to this fact on Sunday in a message on his X Handle.
The message read; “I didn’t really want to be the person saying it but the @fcthighcourt judge who gave the order to kettle #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protesters in the Moshood Abiola Stadium just happened to come from the same village as the Minister of the FCT, the plaintiff. Calculate the odds!”
Forefront News notes that Wike applied for an interim injunction restraining the leaders of the protesting groups from gathering or parading along any road, streets, offices, or public premises within the FCT from August 1-10, or any other day thereafter, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.
Oriji issued the order while ruling on an ex-parte application brought before the court by Wike, and argued by Ogwu Onoja, noting that the protesters had the right to protest but restricted them to the stadium due to the concerns expressed by the FCT minister.
He further held thus; “In light of the above, the court finds it appropriate and expedient to grant an order under the omnibus or general prayer to ensure that the rights of the protesters are upheld while preventing negative impacts on other citizens’ rights to movement and ensuring that properties and public facilities are not destroyed”
Though the FCT Minister had submitted that the Federal Government was not opposed to the protest, he said intelligence and security reports indicated some elements within the leadership of the protesters intended to use the protest to “cause havoc, damage public facilities, block roadways, and disturb public peace”.
He said after contacting the security agencies to ensure the protest did not escalate into criminality or disturbance, he got briefings that their personnel were not adequately equipped to manage potential crises on short notice.
Maintaining that it was better to prevent the protest to avoid any untoward issue(s), the Minister presented an exhibit from the “Take it Back Movement, FCT,” signed by Damilare Adenola, which allegedly threatened to invade the Presidential Villa and damage the outer wires facing the Aso Rock during the protest while claiming that the group demanded the FCT provide them with lighting and toilet facilities during the protest.
The respondents in the suit are Omoyele Sowore, Damilare Adenola, Adama Ukpabi, Tosin Harsogba, persons unknown, and the Inspector-General of Police, among others.
The protest took place inside the MKO Abiola Stadium for days until the Department of State Services (DSS) and the police teargassed and opened fire on protesters and some journalists covering the peaceful demonstration.
