A group, Bring back our girls, under the auspices of Women for Peace and Justice, on Tuesday sued the Commissioner of Police in charge of the Federal Capital Territory, Mbu Joseph Mbu, for banning all protests over the release of abducted Chibok schoolgirls in the FCT.
The group’s Coordinator, Hadiza Usman, on behalf of 16 others, filed the suit dated June 3 in the FCT High Court.
The group, in a court process, which was filed under Order 1 Rule 2 of the Fundamental Right Enforcement Rules 2009, asked the court to declare as illegal and unlawful the ban on protests and rallies, which took effect on June 2.
The suit was filed on behalf of the group by Falana and Falana Chambers.
The group members asked the court to declare the ban as illegal, unconstitutional, null and void.
The group said that the ban was a violation of the fundamental rights to freedom of assembly and association as guaranteed by sections 38, 39 and 40 of the constitution.
Members of the group also wanted the court to declare that “the Commissioner of Police in the FCT, Mr Joseph Mbu, is not competent to ban protests and rallies in the FCT in any manner whatsoever.”
They further asked for an order of perpetual injunction restraining the respondent from preventing aggrieved Nigerians from taking part in rallies.
They prayed that the protest was in exercise of their right to freedom of expression as guaranteed by sections 38, 39 and 40 of 1999 constitution as amended.
Also named as plaintiffs in the suit are Samuel Yaga, Rebecca Yaga, Sarah Ishaya, Malam Dunama Mpur, Lawan Abana, Dr. Pogu Bitrus, Dauda Iliya and the Kibaka Area Development Association.
Others are Obiageli Ezekwesili, Maryam Uwais, Bashair Yusuf, Jibrin Ibrahim, Saudatu Mahdi, Bukky Shonibare, Rotimi Olawale and Florence Ozor.
Mbu had on Monday banned all protests, rallies and demonstrations organised by groups and individuals over the abduction of over 200 schoolgirls at Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State.
The schoolgirls were abducted by Boko Haram insurgents on April 14.
Meanwhile, the Police High Command said on Tuesday that it only issued advisory notice to guide organisers of rallies, adding that it did not ban peaceful protests in any part of the country.
Our earlier story: The Commissioner of Police in charge of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Mbu Joseph Mbu, has lost another round in his bid to stop the #BringBackOurGirls campaign.
A court in the Federal Capital Territory on Tuesday declared Mbu’s order of no more campaign by the #BringBackOurGirls campaigners as null and void.
The group had gone to court to obtain the injunction restraining Mbu from enforcing his threat to stop further sit outs by the group in Abuja in protest against the abduction of the over 200 schoolgirls of Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State by Boko Haram members.
Earlier in the day, the Police High Command had also issued a statement saying there was no order banning peaceful protests.
More details coming shortly.