Court blocks Imo government and police from stopping Rep's rallies and billboards

The Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja has stopped the Imo State Government, police, and local government chairmen from interfering with the rallies and activities of Imo State House of Representatives member, Imo Ugochinyere.

Justice Kayode Agunloye gave the order after an urgent application from Mr Ugochinyere, represented by his lawyer Chibuzor Ezike, in case number FCT/HC/CV/153/2026.

The judge issued the order on July 20, as seen in court documents obtained by PREMIUM TIMES on Friday.

Justice Agunloye signed the order, which was confirmed by the court registrar, Hannatu Simon.

Mr Ugochinyere is a member of the opposition Action Peoples Party. He represents Ideato North/South Federal Constituency in the National Assembly.

Reports say Mr Ugochinyere filed this suit after the Imo State Government sent a letter on June 15. The letter limited him to six billboards in his Ideato North and South Federal Constituency as the 2027 general election approaches.

While Mr Ugochinyere was named as the only defendant, there were 11 other defendants in the case.

These included the Nigeria Police Force, Inspector-General of Police, State Security Service (SSS), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma.

Also listed were the Imo State Signage and Advertisement Agency, chairmen of Ideato North and South LGAs, the Commissioner of Police in Imo State, the Director of the SSS in the state, and the Imo State Command of NSCDC.

Interim injunction

Justice Agunloye ordered the defendants, their agents, and anyone acting for them to stop "destroying, dismantling, defacing, cutting down or ordering for the removal and/or demolition" of Mr Ugochinyere's billboards and signs in Ideato North and South.

The judge also stopped the defendants from "stopping, barring, denying access to, sealing off or preventing the Claimant and/or his supporters" from using venues for peaceful rallies, campaigns, and other civic activities in Ideato or anywhere in Imo State until the case is decided.

He also protected Mr Ugochinyere's "inalienable rights to expression, peaceful assembly and movement" as well as his right to set up billboards in the Ideato Federal Constituency or anywhere in Imo State.

The court ordered security agencies named in the case not to enforce the June 15 letter that limited the lawmaker's billboards to six.

They were also told not to provide security for anyone trying to remove or destroy these billboards.

The judge called for quick hearing of the main case and told that the originating summons and other court documents should be served on the relevant defendants through specific offices, including the Imo State Attorney-General's office and the headquarters of the Nigeria Police Force, SSS, and NSCDC in Abuja.

The court then postponed the case to July 28 for a hearing on the motion for an interim injunction.

New adjourned date

PREMIUM TIMES learned that when the case was heard on July 28, the court said the defendants still had time to respond and were entitled to defend themselves.

However, Mr Ugochinyere's lawyer urged the court to keep the interim order during the court's vacation.

The lawmaker argued that it was the defendants who were not ready to move forward with the motion.

In his decision, Justice Agunloye extended the interim order until the next adjourned date and pushed the hearing to November 4.