The case between One Love Foundation and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mohammed Bello has been adjourned by the FCT Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting at Gudu, FCT Abuja.
One Love Foundation had in a Public Interest case against the Minister, and the Nigerian Police, challenged the legality of the Minister’s proscription of protests of any kind in the FCT by a Resolution/Public Order dated the 15th October 2020.
According to our correspondent who covered the court proceedings, Justice A Muhammed adjourned the case to the 29th March 2021, the case scheduled for today,4th March 2021, was stalled and adjourned due to the undiligence of the counsel for the Minister of the FCT, who actually filed his counter affidavit and written address on 2nd March 2021, and herein failed to serve same to the Nigerian Police Force.
In this regard, the information was brought to the attention of the presiding judge by counsel to the applicants, Ihensekhien Samuel Jnr (esq), and applied for cost against the 1st respondents and his counsel, which the court denied.
No legal representation was made for the Nigerian Police Force.
However renowed human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore made a guest appearance in the case, and represented One Love Foundation to monitor the proceedings.
Founder and President of One Love Foundation and human rights activist, Chief Patrick Eholor, had in October 2020 sued the minister and the police for banning all #EndSARS protests in Abuja.
According to his lawyer, Ihensekhien Samuel Jnr, the ban was an infringement on the constitutional rights of residents of the FCT and Nigeria as whole.
He said, “The suit was filed to challenge the ban on #EndSARS protest in Abuja by the Minister of FCT, Muhammed Bello, and the Nigeria Police Force.
“This ban is an infringement on the constitutional rights of residents of the FCT and Nigeria as whole who are on peaceful protest expressing their displeasure over atrocities committed by F-SARS over the years.
“My client, Comrade Patrick Eholor, filed the suit to restrain the FCT Minister and Nigeria Police Force for violating the rights of protesters in the #EndSARS and #EndSWAT debacle with a ban.”
He also added that his client further implored security agencies, “To respect the fundamental rights of peaceful assembly, association, and right to freedom of speech of all #EndSARS protesters in this regard.”
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