Justice Sylvanus Oriji of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court has extended the order restricting participants in the hunger protest to the MKO Abiola Stadium, also known as the National Stadium.
The judge gave the order following an application to that effect filed by Dr Ogwu Onoja SAN on behalf of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, (FCT).
At the resumed hearing, none of the 12 defendants appeared in court and had no legal representation.
The defendants in the suit are Omoyele Sowore, Damilare Adenola, Adama Ukpabi, Tosin Harsogba, persons unknown, Inspector General IG of Police, and Commissioner of Police.
Others are the Director General of the State Security Service, the Director General, of Nigeria Civil Defense Corps, Chief of Army Staff, the Chief of Air Staff, and Chief of Naval Staff as 1st to 12th respondents.
However, the FCT Minister through his lawyer, drew the attention of the Judge to a statement issued by one Damilare Adenola where she threatened that the nationwide protests may be extended beyond the initial 10 days.
Onoja SAN argued that, since they were not in court and no one knew their next plan of action; ”It would be to extend the order to ensure that peace of the FCT was not unjustly disrupted.”
In a brief ruling, the judge granted the request and affirmed that the order of July 31 remained valid and in force.
Oriji further ordered that the defendants should be served with the hearing notice before the next adjourned date.
He subsequently adjourned until Aug. 22 for a hearing of the motion on notice.
