Court Issues Injunction Against Hunger Protest at MKO Abiola Stadium

The National Stadium, also known as MKO Abiola Stadium, is currently the site of an injunction issued by Justice Sylvanus Oriji of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, prohibiting participants in the hunger protest against the federal government.

On Tuesday, the application filed by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister was presented by Ogwu James Onoja, SAN, and the judge extended the order. None of the eleven defendants attended court or had legal representation.

The attorney for the FCT Minister referred to a statement by Damilare Adenola, suggesting that the protests might extend beyond the originally allotted ten-day period. The judge approved the motion, affirming the validity and enforceability of the July 31 order, and set the hearing for August 22 to consider the motion on notice.

The FCT Minister had requested an interim injunction on July 31 through an ex-parte application argued by Chief Onoja SAN. This order was intended to prevent the five leaders of the protesting groups from gathering or parading themselves along any roads, streets, offices, or public premises within the FCT from August 1 to August 10, or any day thereafter, until the motion on notice is heard and decided.

Additionally, the minister sought another interim injunction compelling security services to prevent the protest leaders from assembling or parading along public roads, offices, or premises within the FCT between August 1 and August 10.

The minister noted that while the federal government supported the right to protest, intelligence and security reports indicated that some protest leaders intended to use the event to cause disruptions, damage public property, obstruct traffic, and disturb the peace.