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…rejects Imo Govt’s bid to vacate Injunction, adjourns further hearing to November
From Godwin Tsa, Abuja
A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, has issued an interim injunction restraining the Imo State Government, the Nigeria Police Force, other security agencies and the Chairmen of Ideato North and Ideato South Local Government Areas from interfering with the civic and political activities of Hon. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, member representing Ideato North/South Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.
The ex parte order, made in Motion No: M/481/2026, an offshoot of a substantive suit marked FCT/HC/CV/153/2026, was granted by Justice K. Agunioye. It bars the affected authorities from sealing, blocking or disrupting rallies, meetings, campaigns or processions organised by Ugochinyere and his supporters anywhere in Ideato or across Imo State.
The Judge made the order after reading the affidavit in support of the application, the exhibits attached to it, and an affidavit of extreme urgency sworn to by one Anderson Achike, and after listening to Ibukunoluwa Thompson, counsel to the applicant, who moved the motion.
The motion was filed by Chizubor Ezike, counsel to the claimant/applicant, against the Inspector-General of Police, the State Security Service, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, the Governor of Imo State, the Imo State Signage and Advertisement Agency (IMSAA), the Chairmen of Ideato North and Ideato South Local Government Areas, the Commissioner of Police in Imo State, and the Director of the SSS in the state, among others.
The court specifically restrained the defendants, their agents and anyone acting on their behalf from stopping, denying access to, sealing off or otherwise preventing Ugochinyere and his supporters from using venues for peaceful rallies, processions, meetings, campaigns and other lawful civic activities within the federal constituency and beyond, in Imo State.
It also restrained the defendants from destroying, dismantling, defacing or removing billboards and signage installed by the lawmaker across the constituency, and from providing security cover for such acts.
In addition, the court barred the defendants from breaching Ugochinyere’s rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and movement, including his right to erect signage publicising constituency projects, communicate civic messages, mobilise constituents and promote security awareness.
The development follows concerns raised over attempts to disrupt venues linked to the lawmaker and his supporters, including meetings and rallies of the Action Peoples Party (APP).
Ruling on a preliminary objection, the court rejected the Imo State Government’s application to vacate the injunction, allowing the protective orders to subsist. The matter has been adjourned to November for further hearing.
Legal watchers described the ruling as a strong judicial affirmation of the constitutional guarantees of freedom of expression, assembly and movement, particularly in the context of political participation ahead of the 2027 election cycle.
Ugochinyere has consistently maintained that his constituency engagements are lawful exercises of his mandate and his right to interact with his constituents.
Pending determination of the substantive suit, the interim orders require the defendants and their agents to refrain from any conduct capable of frustrating or obstructing the lawmaker’s civic and political activities.
