An Ogun State High Court, sitting in Abeokuta, has issued a ruling restricting participants in the upcoming #FearlessInOctober protests to four specific venues across the state.
The designated locations include MKO Abiola Stadium, Abeokuta; Gateway International Stadium, Sagamu; Dipo Dina Stadium, Ijebu Ode; and Ansar-Ud-Deen Comprehensive High School, Ota.
The court order, delivered by Justice Tajudeen A. Okunsokan, came in response to an application filed by the Attorney-General of Ogun State.
The case, numbered AB/667/2024, named several prominent activists and student leaders as respondents. Among them were Afolabi Adeboye, Ifemosu Michael, and Lekan Soneye, who represented themselves and other members of the #FearlessInOctober protests.
Additional respondents included Bestman Okereafor (Progressive Students Movement), Francis Adeyanju (National Association of Nigerian Students), and Thomas Kehinde (National Association of Ogun Students).
Others mentioned in the suit included Yinka Folarin, representing the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, Nicholas Eko of the Socialist Democratic Movement, and Koyejo Morenikeji, alongside unknown individuals and the Ogun State Commissioner of Police.
The court’s ruling mandates that protesters are barred from assembling at any location other than the specified venues. Justice Okunsokan emphasized, “The order ensures that protests are confined to these locations for the next seven days, in accordance with Order 39 of the High Court of Ogun State (Civil Procedure) Rules 2014.”
The court also instructed the Ogun State Commissioner of Police to ensure strict enforcement of the ruling during the protest period.
This directive highlights concerns over public safety and the need to maintain order while allowing peaceful demonstrations to proceed at designated venues.
