Protesters Defy Court Order, March to Eagle Square

Protesters Defy Court Order, March to Eagle Square

Protesters on Thursday defied a court order restraining them from holding demonstrations against the government.

Justice Sylvanus Oriji of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja had on Wednesday restricted protesters in the August 1 demonstration to the MKO Abiola Stadium in the nation’s capital. He issued the order while delivering a ruling in an ex-parte application brought before him by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.

Despite the ruling, demonstrators under the aegis of the ‘Take It Back Movement’ marched towards Eagle Square, carrying placards with messages like ‘Hunger is enough,’ and ‘End bad governance in Nigeria.’

The protesters had initially gathered at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium.

Emmanuel Larry, an FCT resident, said hunger forced him to protest, insisting the government must heed their demands. He noted that protests would continue from August 1 to August 10 if their demands were not met.

“Hunger has brought me out. I don’t have money to buy fuel or anything else. There is total bad governance. The government falsely claimed the protests were cancelled, but we are here, and we will stay until our demands are met,” Larry said.