By Ayo Kehinde
Edo state governor, Godwin Obaseki and government, which had set mid-September 2021 deadline for the enforcement of a COVID-19 directive to prevented its citizens who had not taken the jab by then from entering churches, mosques, banks, event centres and other public places, has been retrained by a Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
In suit with reference number: FHC/PH/FHR/266/2021, dated August 30, 2021, filed by Charles Osaretin against the governor and five others, the applicant’s lead counsel, Echezona Etiaba (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 the substantive motion.
According to Obaseki’s directive; “From the second week of September 2021, large gatherings will only be accessed by those who have at least taken one dose/jab of the vaccine.
“From the second week of September 2021, people will not be allowed into worship centres (churches and mosques), event centres, and receptions without showing proof of the vaccination cards.
“From the middle of September 2021, you can no longer access the banking services, if you have not been vaccinated.”
Obaseki declared the State Government would push for vaccination to build immunity against COVID-19 while indicating the target was to vaccinate 60 per cent of our population in 2022.
On Monday, a Coalition of Civil Society Organisations, staged a protest in Benin-City, the Edo State capital, against the government directive.
Led by Chris Iyama, the group insisted that the recent directive by the governor infringes on their fundamental human rights.
“Governor Obaseki must rescind his decision. That decision will not stand. The governor did not seek our opinion. We are giving the governor seven days”, Iyama said.
