BY AHMED AKANBI
A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, has issued an order restraining the Imo State Government, the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies from interfering with the civic and political activities of Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere, member representing Ideato North/South Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.
Justice Kayode Agunloye gave the order while ruling on an ex parte motion marked M/481/2026, filed alongside a substantive suit FCT/HC/CV/153/2026 by Ugochinyere through his counsel, Chizubor Ezike.
The court also extended the order to the Chairmen of Ideato North and Ideato South Local Government Areas.
Justice Agunloye barred the defendants, their agents and anyone acting on their behalf from sealing, blocking or disrupting rallies, meetings, campaigns or processions organised by Ugochinyere and his supporters anywhere in Ideato and across Imo State.
He further restrained them from denying access to venues, sealing off locations, or preventing the lawmaker and his supporters from using facilities for peaceful rallies, processions, meetings, campaigns and other lawful civic activities within the federal constituency and beyond.
The judge also prohibited 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 actions.
In addition, Justice Agunloye restrained the defendants from breaching Ugochinyere’s constitutional rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and movement.
This includes his right to erect signage publicising constituency projects, communicate civic messages, mobilise constituents and promote security awareness.