The Federal High Court sitting in Owerri, has fixed June 30, 2026, for judgment in a fundamental rights suit challenging the forceful closure of six Major Markets in Imo State to facilitate a political reception for the President.
The suit, filed by Barr. Ephraim Okafor, follows the events of September 30, 2025, where the State Government ordered a total shut down of commercial activities to compel Imolites to welcome President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the state for the commissioning of various APC projects.
During the final adoption of addresses which Okafor said resumed on April 29, 2026, the court moved to the final stage of the proceedings: the adoption of final written addresses.
“Before the adoption, the Office of the Attorney General of the State resolved a conflict in legal representation.
“The court had previously noted that two sets of defense processes were on record—one from the Attorney General’s office and another from the office of L.M. Alozie, SAN.
“In compliance with the court’s order for regularisation, the State Counsel formally withdrew the processes filed by the learned Silk and adopted the counter-affidavit and written address filed by the Ministry of Justice on behalf of the State, the Governor and the Commissioner for Industry, Trade, Commerce and Investment”, he added.
The Applicant’s Contention, Barr. Ephraim Okafor, appearing for himself, urged the court to protect the citizens from executive high-handedness.
Okafor argued that locking up major economic hubs for “political pageantry” without public notice or legal justification is a gross violation of the fundamental rights to freedom of movement and the right to earn a livelihood.
The Applicant is seeking a declaration that the closure was illegal, alongside an order for compensation for the economic loss suffered by the traders and the general public.
However, the State Defense, in their adopted address, the Respondents maintained that the government acted within its administrative discretion to ensure public order and security during the high-profile presidential visit.
They prayed the court to dismiss the suit for lacking in merit – “Awaited Landmark Ruling With the final addresses now adopted by all parties – the presiding judge adjourned the matter to June 30, 2026, for judgment”.
“The ruling is expected to serve as a judicial precedent on whether a state government can lawfully suspend the economic rights of its citizens to satisfy political protocols and state-sponsored ceremonies”, Okafor noted.
