The Ogun State High Court on Wednesday ordered the organisers of the #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protests to limit their activities to four places in the state.
The court also confined the protests to between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.The four locations are: MKO Stadium in Abeokuta, Ansar-ud-Deen Comprehensive High School in Ota, Remo Divisional High School in Sagamu, and Dipo Dina Stadium in Ijebu-Ode.
Justice O. Ogunfowora granted an application filed by the State’s Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Oluwasina Ogungbade (SAN), and directed that all protests under the #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria or any other slogan from August 1 to August 10, 2024, be limited in place and timing.
The judge barred the protesters from protesting outside of designated locations in the state.
The Attorney General clarified that the four sites are spread throughout the state’s four divisions in the three senatorial districts, enabling demonstrators in those areas to conveniently take part in the protest under sufficient protection and without violating the rights of any members of the public who are not participating in the protests.
The judge’s judgement also prohibited any protests from taking place outside of the hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The judge asked the Ogun State Commissioner of Police to implement the injunction and ensure that protests take place only in the designated areas and during the times mentioned in the order.
Justice Ogunfowora declared that the order would last seven days and directed the State to serve the applicant on notice within that time frame.
Justice Ogunfowora asked the protesters to respond to the application within 72 hours. The case was moved until August 6, 2024.
Final Thoughts
The limitations placed on the protests raise concerns about the right to freedom of assembly, which is a fundamental human right.
While governments can impose certain restrictions to ensure safety and order, these restrictions must be reasonable, necessary, and proportionate.
