by Laila Ibrahim

The High Court in Abuja has declared that the police do not have the power to prevent protests against the government’s handling of the abduction of over 200 schoolgirls from the Government Girls’ Secondary School in Chibok, Borno State six and a half months ago.

Justice Ebenezer Aladetoyinbo ruled that the Act which the police claimed gave them the authority to stop the protests, does not authorise them to disrupt rallies or processions regarding the abducted Chibok girls.

The movement began as an attempt to put pressure on the government to rescue the girls. However, the sit out by members of the #BringBackOurGirls campaign soon attracted attention which led to a former Commissioner of Police, Joseph Mbu, banning the protests on June 2, 2014. The #BringBackOurGirls activists responded to the ban with a court action which led to the judgement.

The police have said that they will study the judgement.

YEditor