A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, has restrained the Imo State Government, the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies from interfering with the rallies, meetings and other lawful civic activities of Hon. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, representing Ideato North/South Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.
Key Highlights
- Court orders Imo Government and security agencies to stop disrupting Ugochinyere’s rallies.
- Police and other agencies barred from blocking access to venues for lawful political activities.
- Court restrains defendants from removing or destroying Ugochinyere’s billboards and signage.
- Imo Government’s bid to vacate the injunction was rejected.
- Case adjourned to November for further hearing.
The interim injunction was granted by Justice K. Agunioye in Motion No. M/481/2026, arising from substantive suit No. FCT/HC/CV/153/2026.
The order also applies to the chairmen of Ideato North and Ideato South Local Government Areas.
Justice Agunioye ordered the defendants, their agents and representatives not to seal, block, disrupt or prevent Ugochinyere and his supporters from accessing venues for peaceful rallies, meetings, campaigns, processions and other lawful political activities in the constituency and elsewhere in Imo State.
Court Protects Ugochinyere’s Billboards, Civic Activities
The court also restrained the defendants from destroying, dismantling, defacing or removing billboards and other signage erected by the lawmaker across the constituency, or facilitating such actions.
Justice Agunioye further barred the defendants from engaging in acts capable of violating Ugochinyere’s constitutional rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and movement.
The order covers the lawmaker’s right to publicise constituency projects, communicate civic messages, engage with constituents and promote security awareness.
Ugochinyere’s Legal Team Seeks Protection
The order followed an application filed by Chizubor Ezike, counsel to Ugochinyere, against the Inspector-General of Police, the State Security Service (SSS), the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the Imo State Government and the Imo State Signage and Advertisement Agency.
Other defendants include 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.
The court considered the affidavit supporting the application, accompanying exhibits and an affidavit of extreme urgency sworn to by Anderson Achike before granting the interim relief.
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Ugochinyere’s legal team argued that the lawmaker’s constituency engagements, including meetings and rallies associated with the Action Peoples Party, constituted lawful exercises of his political and civic rights.
Imo Government’s Application to Vacate Order Rejected
In a related development, the court rejected an application by the Imo State Government seeking to vacate the injunction.
The decision means the protective orders remain in force pending further proceedings in the case.
The court adjourned the matter to November for further hearing.
The ruling effectively requires the defendants and their agents to refrain from actions capable of frustrating or obstructing Ugochinyere’s lawful civic and political activities pending the determination of the substantive suit.
