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.
The extension was granted on Tuesday, August 13, following an application by Dr Ogwu James Onoja SAN, representing the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.
During the proceedings, none of the 11 defendants were present in court, nor were they represented by legal counsel. The FCT Minister, through his lawyer, highlighted a statement issued by one Damilare Adenola, threatening that the nationwide protests might extend beyond the initially planned 10 days.
The counsel argued that in the absence of the defendants and given the uncertainty of their future actions, it was prudent to extend the order to prevent any potential disruption of peace within the FCT.
Justice Oriji granted the request, affirming that the order issued on July 31, 2024, remains valid and in force. The judge set August 22, 2024, for the hearing of the motion on notice.
The original order, issued on July 31, was in response to an ex-parte application by the FCT Minister, who sought an interim injunction to restrain the protest leaders from gathering or parading along roads, streets, offices, and public premises within the FCT from August 1 to August 10, or any other day thereafter, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.
The Minister emphasized that while the Federal Government is not opposed to the protest, intelligence and security reports indicated that some elements within the leadership of the protesters might use the protest to cause havoc, damage public facilities, block roadways, and disrupt public peace.