More reactions have continued to trail the order by Justice Slyvanius Oriji of the FCT High Court restricting Abuja protesters to the MKO Abiola National Stadium.

An Abuja-based legal practitioner, Christopher Adie, said the court had powers contained in the constitution to grant such orders.

According to Mr Adie, on July 26, a letter attributed to the ‘Take it Back Movement also formed part of the materials FCT minister Nyesom Wike relied on in his application. He added that In that letter, the protest organisers had expressly demanded the use of a particular location (Eagle Square) for the “duration of the protest.”

Mr Adie said this posed a security concern. He noted that this was a brilliant step by the court when it granted the order.

Cornelius Nwapi, an Abuja-based lawyer, said judicial officers should be protected because they cannot speak for themselves.

Justice Oriji, on July 31, granted an ex parte order restricting protesters to the stadium in Abuja. In his ruling, the judge, who recognised the rights of the protesters to embark on the protest, restricted them to the stadium, given the genuine fears expressed by the minister.

He added that the protest did not negatively or adversely affect the rights of other citizens to move about and to ensure that property and other public facilities were not destroyed.

He, therefore, ordered the first to fifth respondents to “use the Moshood Abiola Stadium” only for the protest.

(NAN)