#EndBadGovernance in NIgeria escaltes at different spots in the nation (day 1)

 

 

 

Tensions Rise in Abuja As Police Insist Protesters Must Stay Within Stadium To Comply with Court Order

 

 Tensions mount in Abuja as police enforce a court order for stadium protests, while protest leaders claim they are compliant.

The #EndBadGovernance protests in Abuja intensified on Thursday as demonstrators and police clashed over where the ongoing protests should be held, particularly at the Moshood Abiola Stadium. 

The Commissioner of Police for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Ben Igweh, addressed the situation by emphasizing that protesters must follow a court order mandating they remain within the stadium grounds. However, Barrister Deji Adeyanju, Convener of Concerned Nigerians, argued that the protesters are complying with the order as they are indeed within the National Stadium.

In an interview with an ARISE NEWS correspondent, Igweh stated, “There is no misunderstanding. We have a valid court order that requires their Barrister, Adedeji Adeyanju, who is leading them, to adhere to. This order specifies that the protest should take place inside the stadium. We also require that any group planning to protest must notify the police, but no group has done so.

“We arrived to find some people already here and instructed them to follow the court order, which Deji Adeyanju is aware of. The order dictates that they protest inside the stadium. We are not preventing anyone from protesting, but the issue is that they are blocking the express road. This interference with other people’s right of way is unacceptable. Therefore, I instructed that they should move into the stadium as per the court's directive, where they can proceed with their protest, including their 1,000 press members.”

When asked if he had communicated with Adeyanju, Igweh responded, “I have spoken with him, and he requested three hours to organize the protesters to move into the stadium. I am granting him this time.”

The Commissioner was then questioned about the actions he would take if the protesters refused to move into the stadium. He replied, “If they refuse to comply, then they are not following the law. The ruling was issued by the court, not by me or the Inspector General of Police. If they choose to defy the court order, they are in violation of it.”

In reply to the CP’s comments, Barrister Deji Adeyanju, Convener of Concerned Nigerians, said, “The protesters are already in the stadium. We are within the National Stadium, as specified by the court order. They have denied us access to Eagle Square, and we have decided not to confront them.”

“The court order specified the stadium, National Stadium—this is what the court directed. Are we not complying? We are at the stadium, not at Eagle Square,” he added.

When asked what he would do if security agencies insisted the protesters move into the stadium, Adeyanju replied, “Then they would need to physically move us in. As a lawyer, I’ve advised the protesters to comply with the court order, whether it’s interim, interlocutory, or final. The law requires us to show we are taking steps to comply. Protesters contacted me as early as 5 a.m. this morning about moving to Eagle Square, and I advised them against it, as doing so would be a violation of the court order.”

He continued, “Since we are in the stadium, we are adhering to the court's positive order, as we are within the National Stadium area. We are not in the Three Arms Zone.”

Adeyanju then added, “Before the CP arrived, the situation was peaceful and calm. However, his presence has charged the atmosphere. My appeal to him is to avoid actions that might escalate the situation.”

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