The Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja has stopped the Imo State Government, police, security agencies and some local government officials from interfering with the rallies, meetings and other civic activities of House of Representatives member, Ikenga Ugochinyere.
Justice Kayode Agunloye issued the interim injunction after Ugochinyere filed an ex parte application through his lawyer, Chibuzor Ezike, in suit number FCT/HC/CV/153/2026.
The court order, issued on July 20, followed a dispute over a directive from the Imo State Government restricting the federal lawmaker to a maximum of six billboards within his Ideato North and South Federal Constituency ahead of the 2027 general election.
Ugochinyere, who represents the constituency in the House of Representatives and is a member of the opposition Action Peoples Party, challenged the directive in court.
The suit listed 11 defendants, including the Nigeria Police Force, the Inspector-General of Police, the State Security Service, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, the Imo State Signage and Advertisement Agency and the chairmen of Ideato North and Ideato South Local Government Areas.
COURT ORDERS SECURITY AGENCIES TO STAY AWAY
In the interim order, Justice Agunloye restrained the defendants, their agents and representatives from destroying, dismantling, defacing or removing billboards and other signs installed by Ugochinyere within the constituency.
The court also barred the defendants from stopping or preventing the lawmaker and his supporters from holding peaceful rallies, meetings, processions, campaigns and other civic activities in Ideato or elsewhere in Imo State.
The judge further ordered the defendants not to interfere with Ugochinyere’s rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and movement, including his right to erect or install billboards and other signage.
Security agencies were specifically restrained from enforcing or implementing the June 15, 2026 letter that limited the number of the lawmaker’s billboards to six.
They were also barred from providing security for anyone attempting to destroy or remove the billboards based on the directive.
CASE ADJOURNED
The court ordered an accelerated hearing of the substantive case and directed that the relevant court documents be served on the defendants through their designated offices.
The matter was initially adjourned to July 28 for the hearing of the motion for an interlocutory injunction.
When the case came up, the court held that the defendants were still within the period allowed by law to file their responses and should therefore be given an opportunity to defend the case.
Ugochinyere’s lawyer subsequently asked the court to extend the interim order through the court’s vacation period, arguing that the defendants were not yet ready to proceed with the interlocutory injunction.
Justice Agunloye granted the request and extended the interim order until the next adjourned date.
The case has now been adjourned until November 4, 2026, for hearing.
