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A Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has restrained the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Calabar and five others from interfering with the fundamental rights of the Chaplain of the Chapel of Redemption, University of Calabar, Rev. Joseph Ushie.
Hon. Justice Phoebe Ayua, in Suit No. FHC/CA/FHR/87/2026, granted an interim injunction following an ex parte motion filed by the embattled chaplain, also known as the applicant.
The applicant had dragged the respondents, comprising the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Offiong E. Offiong; the Registrar, Chukwuka Icha; University of Calabar; Prof. Paul O. Ajah; Rev. Timothy Ebere; and the Chairman, Christian Council of Nigeria, Cross River State Chapter, Most Rev. Offiong Mensah, to court.
The respondents allegedly evicted the chaplain from his quarters on the school premises, contrary to the constitution of the church, appointed an interim chaplain and caretaker committee to run the church council, and also restrained the applicant from the school premises.
Rev. Ushie sought relief from the court following the respondents’ action in allegedly assaulting him while he was exercising his right to religion and worship at the Chapel of Redemption.
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He also sought an order restraining the respondents from altering the structure or order of established practices, as well as an order staying all actions connected with the issues in dispute and maintaining the status quo ante bellum pending the determination of the application.
The applicant, through his counsel, Mba E. Ukweni, SAN, and V. C. Egboluche, urged the honourable court to grant the application and restrain the respondents from harassing, intimidating, or disrupting worship at the Chapel while Rev. Ushie conducts services.
In the ruling, Justice Ayua granted an injunction restraining the respondents, or anyone acting through them, from entering, trespassing upon, taking over, locking up, or in any way interfering with the premises of the UNICAL Chapel of Redemption located at the University of Calabar.
The judge also issued an injunction against the respondents from taking further steps in connection with the matter and ordered them to maintain the status quo ante bellum pending the hearing and determination of the substantive application.
The court ordered that a Hearing Notice be issued and served on the respondents before the next adjourned date of August 20, 2026, for the hearing of the substantive suit.
