A FEDERAL HIGH COURT IN PORT HARCOURT RESTRAINS EDO STATE GOVERNOR, GODWIN OBASEKI AND THE STATE GOVERNMENT FROM ENFORCING COVID-19 VACCINES ON RESIDENTS

A Federal High Court in Port Harcourt has granted an order restraining Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki and the State Government from enforcing a directive that all residents who had not taken the COVID-19 vaccines would be prevented from accessing Churches, Mosques, Banks, event centers and other public places from the middle of September.

 Arguing the motion in the suit filed by Charles Osaretin, against the Governor and five others, the applicants lead Counsel, Echezeona Etiaba, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, urged the court to order parties to maintain status quo pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice, for enforcement of the applicant’s fundamental human rights and for the leave of court to serve the respondents by publishing the court’s processes in a national daily newspaper circulating in Nigeria.

The orders, as prayed, were granted by the vacation Judge at the Federal High court, Port Harcourt, Justice Stephen Dalyop Pam.

The Court subsequently adjourned till September ten for a hearing of the substantive motion.

Governor Obaseki had ordered that from the second week of September 2021 large gatherings will only be accessed by those who have at least taken one dose or jab of the vaccine.