NewStats: 3,262,809 , 8,178,225 topics. Date: Tuesday, 03 June 2025 at 04:35 PM 694245

The Edo State Government has come under fire for reintroducing movement restrictions as part of its monthly environmental sanitation exercise, in direct defiance of longstanding court rulings declaring such actions unconstitutional.

Between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. today, residents across the state were ordered to remain indoors and commercial activities halted under a directive issued by the Ministry of Environment. However, legal experts, civil rights activists, and opposition figures say the policy lacks legal foundation and amounts to a clear violation of citizens’ rights.

In 2015, the Court of Appeal in Lagos delivered a landmark judgment that outlawed the restriction of movement during environmental sanitation hours. The court held that no government circular or istrative directive could override the constitutionally guaranteed freedom of movement. Justice Ugochukwu Ogakwu, who read the lead judgment, described the policy as a gross violation of the Constitution.

Despite this binding precedent, Governor Monday Okpebholo’s istration has proceeded to enforce the controversial order. In a published statement by the government’s press secretary, the istration defended its decision, arguing that waiting for a legal framework would delay efforts to clean the state.

The press secretary stated, “We cannot wait for legislation before taking action to protect our environment. That would be too slow.”

Legal analysts have strongly rejected that argument. “This is a dangerous precedent,” said a senior constitutional lawyer in Benin. “The Constitution cannot be suspended for convenience. Court decisions, especially at the appellate level, are binding and must be respected.”

The Edo State Government’s stance comes amid a similar legal battle in Lagos State, where Senior Advocate of Nigeria Ebun Olu Adegboruwa has taken Governor Babajide Sanwo Olu to the Supreme Court over plans to revive sanitation day movement restrictions. That case is still pending before the apex court.
Critics say Edo’s enforcement of a policy both the Federal High Court and Appeal Court have ruled as unconstitutional is reckless and undermines the judiciary.

Governor Okpebholo has also faced criticism for a previous action that drew condemnation from legal authorities. In December 2024, he approached the Edo State House of Assembly to suspend elected local government chairmen in Edo State, despite a Supreme Court ruling affirming that such actions are unconstitutional. The Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi SAN, issued a legal opinion declaring the governor’s decision null and void. The Edo State Government ignored the directive.

“These actions are part of a worrying pattern,” said a former state lawmaker, Hon. Destiny Enabulele. “The governor seems determined to act outside the bounds of the law, and this raises serious questions about his respect for democratic governance. The Judiciary must take notice of the serial disregard for judicial pronouncements Sen. Okpebholo is showing”

Sanitation Taskforce Accused of Assaulting Citizens

Further public outrage has followed reports of human rights abuses during the enforcement of the sanitation lockdown. Videos circulated online show of the sanitation task force assaulting civilians, including a pregnant woman, for allegedly violating the stay-at-home directive.
Civil society groups have condemned the incidents, calling for a full investigation and ability for the perpetrators.

As the backlash grows, there is increasing pressure on the federal authorities and the judiciary to rein in what critics describe as a breakdown of lawful governance in Edo State.
Analysts warn that unless the courts and institutions respond firmly, the actions of the Edo State Government could embolden other states to flout constitutional norms and undermine the rule of law.

https://leaders.ng/2025/05/31/constitutional-crisis-brews-in-edo-as-okpebholo-defies-court-rulings-on-sanitation-lockdown/

Which dirty court order? This is not PDP and LP that tolerates dirty environment. With Monday okpebholo, Edo will be clean again

No crisis at all. He’s the president favourite son. He can do anyhow and the court will later rule in his favour

Does APC obey court

How people go dey do clean up the rest go dey Waka up and down..

Edo State Govt got this one right... I was driving to Abraka from Benin City last month, my people traffic come hold me for Oka Market for Upper Sakponba... You need to see the pile of refuse on the entrance of that market and people were comfortable shedding market there...

I no sure say Oka market people dey do clean up/sanitation

Hmm. It's funny these so called legal activist don't say a damn word, when the government enforce no movement during elections in Nigeria.

AdvocateWriter:
Which dirty court order? This is not PDP and LP that tolerates dirty environment. With Monday okpebholo, Edo will be clean again

It's not difficult to identify agberos.
Rule of law doesn't matter to these clowns just because they think they control the police, judiciary, legislative and street thugs.

Una forget say one day, we go tire for oppression.

By their fruits you shall know them.

Lol

The law must be obeyed

So you can start saying...Edo is smelling right.

We know your agenda.

Kudos to the governor

The same court that will not do anything?? or do the writer mean cult?

Lolzzz..illiteracy is a disease

I don't know why Court keep doing this shiit this how they stopped it in Lagos and everywhere don become mess....


How many hours in a Month to tidy up everywhere or maybe the Judge is against clean environment...



They should appeal the Judgement...

Okpebholo is not informed.
He's grossly incompetent.
He doesn't even understand what court judgements are.
INEC did Edo people dirty by forcing Okpebholo on them. Tueh.

Faber:
How people go dey do clean up the rest go dey Waka up and down..

Edo State Govt got this one right... I was driving to Abraka from Benin City last month, my people traffic come hold me for Oka Market for Upper Sakponba... You need to see the pile of refuse on the entrance of that market and people were comfortable shedding market there...

I no sure say Oka market people dey do clean up/sanitation

What you said shows laxity on the side of the government, it does not need to wait till sanitation day because market generate refuse daily, government agency responsible supposed to evaquate such refuse at least every three days.

Shouldn't the environment be kept clean everyday of the month why pile up dirt to be cleaned on the last day of the month

Lawless government

ogugwa1992:



https://leaders.ng/2025/05/31/constitutional-crisis-brews-in-edo-as-okpebholo-defies-court-rulings-on-sanitation-lockdown/

let the crisis brew like alcohol them go still drink am

leo22:



It's not difficult to identify agberos.
Rule of law doesn't matter to these clowns just because they think they control the police, judiciary, legislative and street thugs.

Una forget say one day, we go tire for oppression.

By their fruits you shall know them.

Block them repeatedly because Seun doesn't care. Imagine lifting my block list every week. It should be made permanent.

ogugwa1992:



https://leaders.ng/2025/05/31/constitutional-crisis-brews-in-edo-as-okpebholo-defies-court-rulings-on-sanitation-lockdown/

Na nostalgia dey worry am.
That military era sanitation

When English travels, problem arises...

The break down of law and order in Edo state is highly inimical to the populace of Edo people

Law is law, if he wants to reintroduce it, let him go back to court and challenge the ruling

The so called governor, doesn't know the meaning of constitution.

This is what you get when, an academically deficient person is made a governor through manipulation of electoral result.

All these jobless APC data boys defending their illiterate Okphebolo. So, only one Saturday in a month is what will make Edo clean with your wrong approach and beating of the so called offender

AdvocateWriter:
Which dirty court order? This is not PDP and LP that tolerates dirty environment. With Monday okpebholo, Edo will be clean again

Okphebolo aka SLOWED ENGINE according to Oshiomole does not understand anything except what his leaders suggest to him. , he said "is confusing me", that's the kind of person he is, he's always confused, so also are his media aides including the S who issued the press release, he will issue a press release and cancel it and issue another after being corrected for committing blunders.. Okphebolo has promised to do whatever his leaders tells him to do, so he can't take any decision on his own.

Faber:
How people go dey do clean up the rest go dey Waka up and down..

Edo State Govt got this one right... I was driving to Abraka from Benin City last month, my people traffic come hold me for Oka Market for Upper Sakponba... You need to see the pile of refuse on the entrance of that market and people were comfortable shedding market there...

I no sure say Oka market people dey do clean up/sanitation

Local councils and state government generate revenues from these markets daily. Shouldn't they also be responsible to dispose the refuse generated by the same markets?

southsouthking:
Does APC obey court

This governor has been fragrantly disobeying Court orders! This has given credence to th insinuations that he is an illiterate, a fact that has become so glaring.

Shame on Adam Oshiomole who should have ed this man in NOUN university so he can have some basic education rather than having him ran for edo governorship position.

Edo deserves better leadership!