Judiciary halts Imo, police efforts to interfere with lawmaker's campaign gatherings

A Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja has issued a restraining order against the Imo State Government, security agencies, and local government chairmen, prohibiting them from interfering with the civic activities of Imo Ugochinyere, the member representing Ideato North/South Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.

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The order, issued by Justice Kayode Agunloye on July 20, 2026, was made in response to an ex parte application filed by Ugochinyere in suit number FCT/HC/CV/153/2026 and Motion No. M/481/2026, and it bars the defendants from destroying or removing billboards installed by the lawmaker across Ideato North and South Federal Constituencies.

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The court also prohibited the defendants from stopping or preventing Ugochinyere and his supporters from using venues for peaceful rallies, processions, and other civic activities within Ideato Federal Constituency or elsewhere in Imo State, as stated in the documents shared on Friday.

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The order named several defendants, including the Nigeria Police Force, Inspector-General of Police, State Security Service, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Imo State Governor, and the chairmen of Ideato North and Ideato South Local Government Areas, among others.

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Justice Agunloye granted the application after considering the affidavit in support of the application, exhibits, and the affidavit of extreme urgency sworn to by Anderson Achike, and also after listening to counsel to the applicant, Ibukunoluwa Thompson.

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The court specifically ordered the defendants to refrain from engaging in conduct that could frustrate Ugochinyere's political and civic activities pending the determination of the motion on notice, and also restrained them from stopping the reinstallation of billboards by the lawmaker.

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The order further protected Ugochinyere's inalienable rights to expression, peaceful assembly, and movement, including his right to erect or install signage or billboards within Ideato Federal Constituency or Imo State for various purposes.

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The court's order also affected a June 15, 2026, letter that sought to limit the number of Ugochinyere's billboards, as it restrained the defendants from enforcing or implementing the letter or any other similar letters.

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The defendants were also barred from providing security cover for anyone seeking to destroy or remove the billboards in furtherance of the June 15 letter, and the judge ordered an accelerated hearing of the substantive suit.

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The order directed that the originating summons, hearing notices, and other court processes be served on the relevant defendants through specified channels, including the office of the Attorney-General of Imo State and the headquarters of the Nigeria Police Force, SSS, and NSCDC in Abuja.

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The court subsequently adjourned the matter to July 28, 2026, for the hearing of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction, and when the matter came up on the adjourned date, the court noted that the respondents were still within the time allowed by law to file their response.

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The claimant's side urged the court to extend the interim order through the court's vacation period, arguing that it was the respondents who were not ready to proceed with the interlocutory injunction motion, and Justice Agunloye extended the interim order until the next adjourned date.

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The case was further adjourned to November 4, 2026, for hearing, and the order was signed by the presiding judge and authenticated by the court registrar, Hannatu Simon.