Posted by Amarachi on Fri 30th Aug, 2024 - tori.ng
Justice Peter Lifu, who presided over the case, terminated the suit on Thursday after noticing the absence of both the 17 plaintiffs and the 26 defendants in court.
A lawsuit filed by the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), the Inspector General of Police (IGP), the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Chiefs of Army and Defence Staff against #EndBadGovernance protesters, has been dismissed by a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja.
The case was struck out due to the plaintiffs’ failure to pursue the matter diligently.
Justice Peter Lifu, who presided over the case, terminated the suit on Thursday after noticing the absence of both the 17 plaintiffs and the 26 defendants in court.
Additionally, there was no legal representation from either side, despite the case being scheduled for a hearing.
Expressing surprise at the no-show, the judge noted that none of the 17 plaintiffs, who were drawn from the six geo-political zones of Nigeria, were present in court, nor were they represented by legal counsel.
The plaintiffs had initially sought an order from the court to halt the nationwide protests, claiming that their fundamental rights—including freedom of movement, human dignity, the right to own property, economic and social development, and the right to national peace and security—were being violated by the demonstrations.
They requested the court to compel the heads of the DSS, the police, and the army, as well as the AGF, to enforce their rights by curbing the actions of the protesters.