Court bars Obaseki from enforcing compulsory COVID-19 vaccination order

A Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers State capital has granted an order restraining Edo Governor Godwin Obaseki and the Edo government from enforcing a directive mandating all residents of the state to compulsorily get COVID-19 jab.

Obaseki had warned that any resident who failed to get vaccinated would not be allowed access to worship centres, banks and other public places in the state.

Counsel to the plaintiff, Echezona Etiaba had, in a motion filed by Charles Osaretin against the Governor of Edo State and five others, urged 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 rights.

Etiaba, further prayed the court to grant the leave of court to serve the respondents by publishing the court processes on a national daily circulating in Nigeria.

The Presiding Judge, Justice Adamu Turaki-Mohammed in his ruling, granted the experte orders.

Turaki-Mohammed, however, adjourned till the 10th of September, for hearing of the substantive motion.