Chief judge of Kwara State, Justice Abiodun Adebara, on Monday, ordered that public protests of any kind in the state should only be held at the metropolitan square, Ilorin, in the interest of public order and safety.
Ruling on an ex-parte motion filed and argued by the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barrister Senior Ibrahim Sulyman, Justice Abiodun Adebara said “he is persuaded to grant an order of interim injunction directing the 4th respondents (unknown persons) whether by themselves, agents, privies, servants or any person(s) acting through them not to converge, carry, conduct any act or form of their proposed peaceful public protest, rallies, processions and or meetings in any other place except at the Metropolitan Square, Asa Dam Road, Kwara state, in the interest of the general public on the 1st October, 2024, or any other date.”
The court also ordered the director of State Security Services, the Commissioner of Police, the Commandant of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps to provide adequate security for the protection of lives and properties of all citizens and residents of the state, as well as the infrastructures provided by the government against the 4th respondent’s act of protest or any form of protest on the 1st of October 2024 or any other day.
The court asked that processes in the suit be served on the respondents by substituted service by pasting the same at the High Court of Justice premises in Ilorin.
While adjourning hearing in the suit till October 21, 2024, the Chief Judge declared that the interim injunction will be in force for at least seven days.