Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers state capital, has granted an order restraining Edo state governor, Godwin Obaseki and the state government from restricting unvaccinated persons from attending mass gatherings from September.
The governor, who launched the second phase of the state’s COVID-19 vaccination exercise last week, had said those who cannot show proof of taking at least one dose of COVID vaccine may not be allowed to worship in mosques and churches, banks, event centres and other public places from mid September.
Obaseki stressed;
From the second week of September, people may not be allowed to worship in churches and mosques without showing proof of their vaccination cards at the gates. Similarly, people will not be allowed to event centres, receptions or parties, without showing proof of their vaccination cards. People will not be allowed to access banking services from the middle of September 2021, if they are not vaccinated.
While arguing the motions in the suit with reference number: FHC/PH/FHR/266/2021 filed by one Charles Osaretin, against the Governor and five others dated August 30, 2021, the applicant’s lead counsel, Echezona Etiaba, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), 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 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 FHC, Port Harcourt, Justice Stephen Dalyop Pam.
The court subsequently adjourned till September 10 for a hearing of substantive motion.
