Benue court overturns governor’s order restricting public gatherings
A Benue State High Court has nullified an executive order by Governor Hyacinth Alia that restricted public gatherings across the state. The order, signed on February 27, 2024 and February 28, 2024, banned events beyond 10pm and imposed other limitations. The court ruled in favor of Bemgba Iortyom and Adebayo Ogorry, who challenged the legality of the order. The judgment was hailed as a victory for constitutional rights and the rule of law.
What we know
- Governor Hyacinth Alia signed an executive order on February 27, 2024 and February 28, 2024 restricting public gatherings and events beyond 10pm in Benue State.
- The order was challenged by Bemgba Iortyom and Adebayo Ogorry, who argued it violated fundamental rights and constitutional provisions.
- The court, presided over by Justice Theresa Igoche, declared the executive order null and void, calling it illegal and ultra vires the governor’s powers.
- The plaintiffs’ suit, filed in June 2024, led to a perpetual injunction restraining the governor and his agents from enforcing the order.
- The court found that the Executive Order Act, which the governor relied upon, had already been nullified by the Supreme Court, making the order baseless.
