Federal Court Halts Imo Govt, Police Interference in Rep Ugochinyere's Rallies

An Abuja Federal Capital Territory High Court has issued an interim injunction, preventing the Imo State Government, various security agencies, and the chairmen of Ideato North and Ideato South Local Government Areas from impeding the civic and political engagements of Imo Ugochinyere, the House of Representatives member for Ideato North/South Federal Constituency.

Justice Kayode Agunloye granted the interim order on July 20, 2026, following an ex parte application filed by Ugochinyere. The suit, designated FCT/HC/CV/153/2026 with Motion No. M/481/2026, saw the court restricting the defendants, their representatives, or anyone acting on their behalf from "destroying, dismantling, defacing, cutting down or ordering for the removal and/or demolition" of billboards and signages erected by the lawmaker across his Ideato North and South Federal Constituencies in Imo State.

The court order further explicitly prohibited the defendants from "stopping, barring, denying access to, sealing off or preventing the Claimant and/or his supporters" from utilizing venues for peaceful rallies, processions, campaigns, meetings, and other civic activities within the Ideato Federal Constituency or any other part of Imo State. Ugochinyere, represented by his counsel, Chizubor Ezike, brought the application before the court.

Named as defendants in the suit are the Nigeria Police Force, the Inspector-General of Police, the State Security Service (SSS), the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the Governor of Imo State, the Imo State Signage and Advertisement Agency, the chairmen of Ideato North and Ideato South LGAs, the Imo State Commissioner of Police, the Imo State Director of the SSS, and the NSCDC Imo State Command.

Justice Agunloye, in his ruling, stated that he had carefully considered the supporting affidavit, exhibits, and an affidavit of extreme urgency sworn by Anderson Achike. He also confirmed that he had listened to arguments from the applicant's counsel, Ibukunoluwa Thompson, before granting the application. The court's directive specifically mandates that the defendants must refrain from any actions that could hinder Ugochinyere’s political and civic activities, pending the resolution of the motion on notice.

According to the order, the defendants are barred from "stopping the continued or further reinstallation of the billboards" by the lawmaker or from preventing him and his supporters from conducting "any civic activities, peaceful rally, procession, program, campaign, meetings or any event" in designated venues within Ideato Federal Constituency or Imo State. Furthermore, the court restrained the defendants from infringing upon the lawmaker's "inalienable rights to expression, peaceful assembly and movement."

These rights, as clarified by the court, include Ugochinyere’s prerogative "to erect or install signage or billboards within Ideato Federal Constituency or Imo State." Such installations are intended for purposes like showcasing government projects facilitated by him, mobilizing constituents, conveying seasonal greetings, and disseminating security awareness messages.

Crucially, the court order also addresses a letter dated June 15, 2026, which sought to limit the number of Ugochinyere’s billboards. The fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth defendants were specifically restrained from "giving effect to, enforcing, carrying out or implementing the letter dated 15th June, 2026 or any other such letter(s)" that restricts the lawmaker's billboards to a maximum of six. The defendants were also prohibited from providing security for anyone attempting to destroy or remove these billboards in line with the June 15 letter.

The judge mandated an accelerated hearing for the substantive suit. The order also stipulated that the originating summons, hearing notices, and other court documents be served on the relevant defendants through specified channels, including the office of the Attorney-General of Imo State, the Legal Department of the Nigeria Police Force, the SSS headquarters, and the NSCDC headquarters in Abuja.

The case was initially adjourned to July 28, 2026, for the hearing of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction. On that date, the court acknowledged that the respondents were still within their legal timeframe to file a response and were thus entitled to present their defense. However, the claimant's legal team requested an extension of the interim order through the court's vacation period, citing the respondents' apparent lack of readiness to proceed with the interlocutory injunction motion. Justice Agunloye subsequently granted the request, extending the interim order until the next adjourned date, which is now November 4, 2026, for further hearing.