Court restricts August protest to Ilorin Metropolitan Square
By Mosunmola Ayobami, Ilorin
A Kwara State Court has ordered the organizers of the August 1 protest in Kwara State to confine their activities to the Metropolitan Square in Ilorin, the state capital.
Granting an ex parte order on Wednesday, July 31, 2024, the court concurred with the Attorney General of the state and Commissioner for Justice, Barrister Senior Ibrahim Sulyman, who argued that the protest could escalate into violence if protesters were allowed to gather freely.
The respondents in the case are the Director of State Security Service, Kwara State; the Commissioner of Police, Kwara State Command; the Commandant of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps; the Take-It-Back Movement; Mr. Buhari Olanrewaju Ahmed; and unknown persons.
“After listening to Senior Ibrahim Sulyman Esq., Attorney General of Kwara State, the applicant herein, and after a careful perusal of the 5-paragraph affidavit as well as the written address in support of the motion ex parte, the following orders are hereby granted,” according to the order signed by Chief Magistrate (DCR Litigation) Jibril Bio Salihu.
“An order of interim injunction restraining the 4th-6th respondents, whether by themselves, agents, privies, servants, or any other person(s) acting through them, from converging, carrying out, or conducting any act or form of their proposed peaceful public protest, rallies, processions, and/or meetings in any other place other than Metropolitan Square/Asa Dam Road, Kwara State, in the interest of the general public, for a period of 7 days, effective from August 1, 2024.
“It is also ordered that the 1st-3rd respondents provide adequate security for the protection of lives and properties of all citizens and residents of Kwara State, as well as the infrastructure provided by the Kwara State Government, against any acts, protests, or any form of protest by the 4th-6th respondents for a period of 7 days effective from August 1, 2024, or any other day pending the determination of the motion on notice.
“It is also ordered that all court processes filed in respect of this suit be served on the 4th-6th respondents by pasting them at the High Court of Justice premises.”
The court adjourned further hearings in the case to August 14, 2024.
