Court restricts protesters in Kwara to Ilorin metropolitan square

A Kwara state high court has restricted organisers of the planned nationwide protest in the state to the metropolitan square in Ilorin.

The protest is slated to begin on 1 August.

Adesikeola Ajiboye, spokesperson of the Kwara state ministry of justice, announced the restriction in a statement on Wednesday.

Ajiboye noted that the court granted the ex parte order because “the protest could potentially lead to violence if protesters are allowed unrestricted movement”.

She added that Jibril Bio Salihu, the presiding judge, agreed with Ibrahim Sulyman, the state’s attorney-general and commissioner for justice’s argument.

“After listening to Ibrahim Sulyman Esq., attorney-general of Kwara state, the applicant herein, and after a careful perusal of the five-paragraph affidavit and written address in support of the motion ex parte, the following orders are hereby granted,” the statement reads.

“An order of interim injunction restraining the 4th-6th respondents, whether by themselves, agents, privies, servants, or any other persons 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 seven days, effective from 1 August 2024.

“It is also ordered that the 1st-3rd respondents provide adequate security for the protection of the 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 seven days, effective from 1 August 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 respondents in the case include the director of State Security Service, Kwara State; the Commissioner of Police, Kwara State Command; the Commandant and of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps; Buhari Olanrewaju Ahmed; the Take-It-Back Movement; and other unidentified individuals.

The judge adjourned the matter to August 14 for further hearings.