A Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a lawsuit filed against the #EndBadGovernance protesters, along with 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.
The dismissal was due to the plaintiffs’ failure to pursue the matter diligently.
Justice Peter Lifu, presiding over the case, terminated the suit on Thursday, August 29, after observing the absence of both the 17 plaintiffs and the 26 defendants in court. There was also no legal representation from either side, despite the case being scheduled for a hearing.
Expressing surprise at the no-show, Justice Lifu 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.
However, the lack of diligence and absence of both parties led to the dismissal of the suit
