Court restricts Kwara hunger protest to Ilorin square

A Kwara State Magistrates Court has ordered the restriction of organisers of the planned August 1-10 hunger protest in the state to the Metropolitan Square in Ilorin, the state capital.

Granting an exparte order on Wednesday, July 31, 2024, the Chief Magistrate, Jibril Salihu, who presided over the court, said that he agreed with the State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Ibrahim Sulyman, that such a protest could degenerate into violence if protesters are allowed to do as they wish.

The respondents in the case are the Director, State Security Service, Kwara State; the Commissioner of Police, Kwara State Command; the Commandant, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corp; the Take-It-Back Movement; among others.

“After listening to Senior Ibrahim Sulyman, the Attorney-General of Kwara State, the applicant herein and after a careful perusal of the five-paragraph affidavit as well as the written address in support of the motion ex-parte, the following orders are hereby granted:

“An order of interim injunction restraining the 4th-6th respondents whether, by themselves, agents, privies, servants or any other person(s) acting through them to converge, carry, conduct any act or form of their proposed peaceful public protest, rallies, processions and or meetings in any other place other than the Metropolitan Square/Asa Dam Road, Kwara State, in the interest of the general public for seven days, effective from August 1, 2024.

“It is also ordered that the 1st-3rd respondents are directed to 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 the 4th-6th respondents’ act, protest, or any form of protest for seven days effective from August 1, 2024, or any other day pending the determination of the motion on notice,” Salihu said.

He also directed that “all the court processes filed in respect of this suit be served on the 4th-6th respondents by pasting same at the High Court of Justice premises.”

The court adjourned further hearings in the case to August 14, 2024.

The planned nationwide protest is in response to the harsh economic realities facing the citizenry.