By Nwafor Okafor
An Anambra High Court has ordered the Anambra State Government and the state Commissioner of Police to remove all roadblocks in the state.
In his judgment in the case of Francis Moneke v. Anambra State Govt. & Ors. (A/Misc. 194/2021), delivered on 25/1/2022 Hon. Justice Ike Ogu held that the government and police had no legal justification whatsoever in erecting roadblocks on major roads in Anambra State in the guise of checkmating insecurity.
Justice Ogu held that such illegal blockage flagrantly violated the Applicant’s right to freedom of movement.
Consequently, the court ordered the state government and police to immediately remove every such roadblock in Anambra State to allow free movement of persons and vehicles.
The respondents were also ordered to pay some amount of money to the applicant as compensation for the violation of his fundamental right to freedom of movement.
Our correspondent gathered that the road block at Amawbia/Nibo junction had caused excruciating pains to road users in Awka, the state capital, and environs for over the years.
