Court Dismisses Suit Seeking to Stop #EndBadGovernance Protests

Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed an application seeking an interim injunction to stop protesters from continuing the #EndBadGovernance protest. The application was filed by Danladi Goje, Buky Abayomi, Adiza Abbo, and 13 other Nigerians who claimed that their rights to life, personal liberty, private and family life, and economic activities would be breached if the protest continued.

In a ruling, Justice Lifu held that the #EndBadGovernance protest ended last week and that there was no evidence presented before the court showing that the protesters would reconvene later. The judge also noted that the applicants’ lawyer failed to provide the required affidavit to support the requests for an interim injunction and substituted service.

The applicants had sued various organizations and individuals, including Take It Back Movement, Concerned Nigerians, Nigerians Against Hunger, and Omoyele Sowore, as well as the attorney general of the federation and security agencies. They claimed that the protest would lead to a breakdown of law and order and cause economic hardship.

However, Justice Lifu dismissed the application for lacking in merit and adjourned the hearing on the motion on notice to August 29. The applicants’ lawyer, Tsembelee Sorkaa, had urged the court to restrain the respondents from continuing with the protest pending the determination of his motion on notice.

In the court documents, Sorkaa claimed that his clients’ rights would be further breached if the protest continued. He appealed to the court to enforce the restraining order if it was granted. However, Justice Lifu’s ruling means that the protest can continue, and the respondents are free to exercise their rights to freedom of assembly and expression.