By Elijah Ugani
The High Court of Cross River State sitting in Ogoja has granted an interim injunction restraining the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services (DSS), the Cross River State Government, and their agents from inviting, arresting, detaining, or harassing the Vice Chairman of Ogoja Local Government Area, Hon. Emmanuel Idi Yakubu, over an official vehicle attached to his office.
The order was granted pending the hearing and determination of a substantive suit filed by Yakubu following what his legal team described as attempts to deploy state institutions against him in connection with the vehicle.
The development comes shortly after the same court delivered judgment on June 15, 2026, nullifying Yakubu’s purported impeachment and removal from office as Vice Chairman of Ogoja Local Government Area.
In the judgment, the court reportedly declared the impeachment illegal, unconstitutional, null and void, and affirmed that Yakubu remains the lawful and incumbent Vice Chairman of the council.
The court further held that the office of the Vice Chairman had never been vacant and that Yakubu was entitled to continue enjoying all rights, privileges, benefits, and emoluments attached to the office.
According to court documents and statements from his legal counsel, the controversy arose after the Cross River State Government allegedly communicated with the DSS, requesting that Yakubu be denied security clearance to contest an election next year on the grounds that he had failed to return an official vehicle assigned to him.
His lawyers argued that the court’s declaration confirming him as the substantive Vice Chairman also affirmed his entitlement to the official vehicle allocated to the office, noting that the vehicle’s allocation documents bear his name.
The situation escalated when Yakubu reportedly received a police invitation alleging that he had converted or stolen the vehicle.
His legal team subsequently approached the High Court seeking protection from what it described as harassment and intimidation.
Granting the interim injunction, the court restrained the police, DSS, Cross River State Government, and their representatives from taking any action against Yakubu in relation to the vehicle until the substantive matter is determined.
Reacting to the development, counsel to Yakubu, F. Baba Isa, Esq., called on political leaders, traditional rulers, religious leaders, and other stakeholders in Ogoja to intervene constructively and help bring an end to the dispute.
He warned against the criminalisation of political disagreements and urged government institutions to uphold constitutional principles, due process, and respect for judicial pronouncements.
Isa also cautioned the state government against actions that could attract public criticism, referencing the controversial arrest and detention of journalist Agba Jalingo as an example of past events that generated significant public attention.
He maintained that his legal team would continue to pursue all lawful means to protect the rights, liberty, and dignity of their client while the matter remains before the courts.