With just a few hours remaining before the start of the nationwide hunger protests from August 1-10, 2024, a Kwara State High Court has limited the protesters to gather solely at the Ilorin Metropolitan square in the state capital.
An ex parte order was granted by the court on Wednesday following the concerns raised by the Attorney General of the State and Commissioner for Justice, Barrister Senior Ibrahim Sulyman, who feared that the protest could escalate into violence if not controlled.
The respondents named in the case comprise the Director State Security Service, Kwara State, Commissioner of Police, Kwara State Command, the Commandant, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, Take-It-Back Movement, Mr. Buhari Olanrewaju Ahmed, and unknown individuals.
According to the court’s decision, “An order of interim injunction is hereby granted restraining the 4th-6th respondents from organizing any form of protest in any location other than Metropolitan Square/Asa Dam Road, Kwara State, for a period of 7 days starting from August 1, 2024, in the interest of public safety.”
Furthermore, the court directed the 1st-3rd respondents to ensure adequate security measures to safeguard the lives, properties, and infrastructure of all citizens and residents of Kwara State against any protest actions by the 4th-6th respondents within the same time frame.
All necessary court documents related to the case are to be served to the 4th-6th respondents by posting them at the High Court of Justice premises, as per the court’s order.
A statement released by the press secretary of the Ministry of Justice, Mrs. Adesikeola Ajiboye, confirmed that further hearings on the case are scheduled for August 14, 2024.