A Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital has ruled as illegal and unconstitutional and illegal to restrict vehicular and human movement during the monthly sanitation exercise which is held every last Saturday.
In a suit instituted by Prince Azubuike against the Attorney-General of Rivers State, Rivers State Waste Management Agency, RIWAMA and the Commissioner of Police challenging the power of Rivers State Government to restrict the movement of persons on the last Saturday of every month under the guise of environmental sanitation authority, Justice Omotosho of the Federal High Court ruled that:
“The restriction of movement in Rivers State on the last Saturday of every month under the guise of environmental sanitation exercise is illegal, unconstitutional, null and void”.
“Any law authorizing the Rivers State Government to restrict movement of people in the state is unconstitutional for being inconsistent with the provisions of the constitution”.
“The barricading of Ada George Road on the 31st day of October, 2020 by men of Ada George Police Station under the instruction of the Rivers State Waste Management Agency is illegal, unconstitutional, null and void”.
“The sum of N1,000,000.00 in favour of the Applicant jointly and severally against the Respondents”.
“10% interest rate per annum until the judgment sum is liquidated”.
