THE Federal High Court (FHC) Abuja has dismissed an application aiming to stop the just concluded #EndBadGovernance protesters from continuing with the demonstration across Nigeria.
The protest with the hashtag #EndBadGovernance was organised from August 1 to 10 across the nation to show displeasure with high inflation, corruption and hunger in the country.
Danladi Goje, Buky Abayomi, Adiza Abbo, and 13 others sought the interim injunction restraining the protesters under different platforms from continuing with the protest.
In the lawsuit filed on August 12, they requested the protection of their fundamental rights against the groups organising the #EndBadGovernance protest.
Organisations mentioned in the case include the Take It Back Movement, Concerned Nigerians, Nigerians Against Hunger, Initiative For Change, Human Rights Co-advocacy Initiative, Nigerian Against Corruption Initiative, Citizens For Change Advocacy Initiative, and Timely Intervention as 1st to 8th respondents.
Others include the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Youths Against Tyranny, Save Nigeria Movement, Active Citizens Group, Students For Change, We Coalition, Total Intervention, Refurbished Nigeria, Tomorrow Today, and Our Future In Our Hands Initiative.
The Attorney General Of The Federation and security agencies were also listed in the suit.
The applicant’s attorney, Tsembelee Sorkaa, claimed in the suit that the protests in Nigeria led by the first through nineteenth respondents, who were using the hashtag #EndBadGovernanc, were likely to violate his clients’ rights to life, personal liberty, private and family life, movement, property, and economic development.
While his motion on notice was being considered, he requested that the court prevent the first through 19th respondents from continuing with the protest.
In addition, he implored the court to require security services to implement any restraining order that may be issued.
Citing urgency, he also asked for an order of substituted service on the first through the 19th respondents through any national publication.
The lawyer claimed that the previous protests in Nigeria in 2020, hashtag #EndSARS, led to the deaths of innocent Nigerians and massive lootings and destruction of property.
The judge, Peter Lifu, dismissed the ex parte motion with the file number FHC/ABS/CS/1149/2024.
The judge ruled that the lawyer did not submit the necessary affidavit to back up his motions for an interim injunction and substituted service, making it improper for him to rush and grant the requests.
In addition, the judge declared that the protest in question came to an end on August 10 and that the lawyer had not shown any proof suggesting that the demonstrators would reassemble later.
The court consequently postponed the motion’s hearing till August 29, 2024.
During the protest, some state governors were forced to implement curfews as a result of violence and looting.
On August 10, the protest came to an end with the organisers promising to return to the streets to keep pushing for a better government.
President Bola Tinubu addressed the nation during the protests, acknowledged the grievances that necessitated the demonstrations and restated his administration’s commitment to rebuilding the economy and enhancing quality of life of Nigerians.
A reporter with the ICIR
A Journalist with a niche for quality and a promoter of good governance