Ogun court restricts #EndBadGovernance protesters to four locations

The #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protests, which were set to start today, August 1 across Nigeria, have been limited to four areas within the state's three senatorial districts by an Ogun High Court located in Abeokuta. These are the locations: Dipo Dina Stadium, Ijebu-Ode; Remo Divisional High School, Sagamu; Ansar-ud-Deen Comprehensive High School, Ota; and MKO Stadium, Abeokuta.

As a result, the court, presided over by Justice Olugboyega Ogunfowora, forbade demonstrators and organizers from congregating anyplace other than the four designated locations. Additionally, Judge Ogunfowora stated that the protest should only take place between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Oluwasina Ogungbade (SAN), the Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General of Ogun State, filed an application, and the court granted it.

The Court states that from August 1 to August 10, 2024, all demonstrations using the hashtag #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria or any other slogan must be restricted in terms of location and timing.

The Ogun Commissioner of Police was instructed by the Court to carry out the order's provisions, which include limiting the protests to the designated sites and times. He ruled that the State had to serve the applicant on notice within the allotted seven days of the order's duration. Judge Ogunfowora also postponed the hearing until August 6, 2024, and gave the demonstrators 72 hours to reply to the application.

In his appeal, Ogungbade requested that the court restrict protests to four sites located in each of the state's four divisions and three senatorial districts. According to him, this will enable demonstrators from senatorial districts to take part in the demonstrations with sufficient security agency protection. He maintained that putting restrictions on the demonstrators will also guarantee that the rights of any public members who are not participating in protests be respected.