A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, has restrained the Imo State Government, the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), other security agencies and the chairmen of Ideato North and Ideato South Local Government Areas from interfering with the political and civic activities of the member representing Ideato North/South Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Ikenga Ugochinyere.
Justice Kayode Agunloye issued the interim order following an ex parte application filed by Ugochinyere through his counsel, Chizubor Ezike, in Suit No. FCT/HC/CV/153/2026 and Motion No. M/481/2026. The order, dated July 20, 2026, restrains the defendants from disrupting the lawmaker’s rallies, meetings, campaigns, processions and other lawful civic activities in Ideato or elsewhere in Imo State.
The court also barred the defendants, their agents, officers or anyone acting on their behalf from stopping, denying access to, sealing off or preventing Ugochinyere and his supporters from using venues for peaceful rallies, meetings, campaigns, processions and other lawful activities.
Justice Agunloye further restrained the defendants from destroying, dismantling, defacing, cutting down or removing billboards and signages installed by the lawmaker across Ideato North and South Federal Constituencies.
The security agencies were equally barred from providing cover for any person or agency seeking to carry out such acts.
The judge also directed that the defendants must not engage in any conduct capable of frustrating Ugochinyere’s political and civic activities pending the determination of the motion on notice.
In particular, the court restrained the Imo State Government, the Imo State Signage and Advertisement Agency (IMSAA) and the two local government chairmen from enforcing or implementing a June 15, 2026 directive or any similar directive limiting the number of Ugochinyere’s billboards to six within his constituency.
Justice Agunloye also protected what the court described as the lawmaker’s rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and movement, including his right to erect or install signages and billboards for purposes such as showcasing constituency projects, mobilising constituents and disseminating civic and security-awareness messages.
The defendants in the suit include the Inspector-General of Police, the State Security Service (SSS), the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the Imo State Governor, IMSAA, the chairmen of Ideato North and Ideato South LGAs, the Commissioner of Police in Imo State, the Director of SSS in the state and the NSCDC Imo State Command.
The lawmaker had approached the court seeking protection against alleged attempts to interfere with his political engagements, meetings, rallies and campaign materials.
While granting the application, Justice Agunloye said he had considered the affidavit in support of the application, the exhibits and an affidavit of extreme urgency before granting the interim reliefs.
The court subsequently extended the interim order after the respondents had not yet filed their responses, and adjourned the matter to November 4, 2026, for further hearing.
The order remains in force pending further proceedings in the substantive suit.
