Police ‘cannot ban’ #BBOG protest or any other

SE Aladetoyinbo, justice of the federal high court, Abuja, has ruled that the police have no right to ban peaceful protests.

Ruling on the suit filed by the #BringBackOurGirls group on June 3 to the challenge the previous day’s ban on protests by Joseph Mbu, the then FCT police commissioner, Adetoyinbo also dismissed the preliminary objection of Mbu’s counsel to the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the case.

“The order banning protest by FCT police commissioner is illegal, null and void,” he said.

Adetoyinbo also dismissed another preliminary objection of the defence counsel that the #BBOG group was not registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), and therefore was not a legal entity to file suit against a federal government agency.

He maintained the suit was legal because it was brought before the court by legal citizens.

Adetoyinbo further ruled that citizens who want to protest were not mandated to get permit from the police, but could notify the security agency of their plans to protest.

Speaking with TheCable on the judgment, Samuel Ogala, counsel of the plaintiff, described the court’s ruling as a reaffirmation of the position of the law that the police had no right to ban peaceful protest.

Aisha Yesufu, one of the leaders of the #BringBackOurGirls group, told TheCable that the judgment was clear sign that Nigerians should always seek to fight for their rights in court.

Aladetoyinbo commended Mohammed Abubakar, former inspector-general of police, for reversing the ban on protests on June 4, a day after it was announced by Mbu who is now an assistant inspector-general of police.