A Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, the Rivers state capital, has restrained Godwin Obaseki, Governor of Edo State, and the Edo State government from implementing and enforcing a law restricting unvaccinated people from large or mass gatherings in the state.
Justice Stephen Dalyop Pam, the presiding judge, granted the interim order following a suit filed by one Charles Osaretin.
The suit, marked FHC/PH/FHR/266/2021, was filed by Osaretin’s lawyer, Echezona Etiaba, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN). It listed Governor Obaseki and five others as respondents.
Governor Obaseli had during the second phase of the state’s COVID-19 vaccination exercise last week declared those who cannot show proof of taking at least one dose of the COVID vaccine may not be allowed to worship in mosques and churches, banks, event centres and other public places from mid-September.
Following the governor’s declaration, Osaretin approached the court and urged it to order parties to maintain status quo pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice; for the 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.
Justice Pam subsequently granted the prayers of the plaintiff.
He adjourned the suit till September 10 for a hearing of the substantive motion.
