A Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State has restrained Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki and the State Government from restricting unvaccinated persons from attending mosques, churches, banks, event centres and other public places from September 15, 2021.
Recall that the governor, during the launch of the second phase of the state’s COVID-19 vaccination exercise last week, said that those who cannot show proof of taking at least one dose of the Covid vaccine may not be allowed to in public places from mid September.
Following this directive, one Charles Osaretin through his counsel, Echezona Etiaba, a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), filed a suit marked FHC/PH/FHR/266/2021 against the governor and five others.
According to the suit filed, Osaretin asked the court 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.
The Judge, Stephen Dalyop Pam, following this request granted the orders as prayed, and adjourned the suit till September 10, 2021 for a hearing of the substantive motion.