Human Rights Lawyer Sues Security Agencies Over Roadblocks in Owerri, Seeks ₦500m Damages for Rights Violations
A legal practitioner and human rights activist, Chinedu Agu, Esq., has approached the Federal High Court sitting in Owerri, challenging what he described as the persistent erection and maintenance of roadblocks, checkpoints, barricades and other traffic obstructions across major roads in Owerri and various parts of Imo State.
The public interest suit names the Controller-General of Corrections, Nigerian Correctional Service; the Controller of Corrections, Imo State Command; the Inspector-General of Police; the Commissioner of Police, Imo State; the Police Service Commission; the Nigeria Police Force; and the Attorney-General of Imo State as respondents.
Agu filed the action under Sections 33, 34, 41 and 46 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), alongside the Fundamental Rights Enforcement Procedure Rules, 2009.
In the suit, the applicant is asking the court to declare the alleged roadblocks and traffic restrictions unlawful and unconstitutional, arguing that they violate citizens’ rights to freedom of movement, life and dignity of the human person.
He also seeks an order compelling the respondents to dismantle and remove the disputed barricades and checkpoints, as well as a perpetual injunction preventing future erection of traffic barriers in a manner that forces motorists into one-way routes.
Additionally, Agu is demanding ₦500 million in general and exemplary damages, citing alleged psychological trauma, distress, inconvenience and risks to life resulting from the actions of the respondents.
According to Agu, the case goes beyond his personal experience and is being pursued in the public interest on behalf of motorists, transport operators, professionals, emergency service users and other residents affected by the alleged traffic obstructions.
One of his major concerns is a roadblock reportedly mounted near the Owerri Correctional Centre along Okigwe Road. He described the road as a key dual carriageway designed for heavy, two-way traffic movement across the city.
He alleged that barricades placed along one side of the road have effectively turned it into a constrained single-lane route, forcing vehicles travelling in opposite directions into the same lane. According to him, the situation has led to severe traffic congestion, chaotic merging of vehicles and increased risks of accidents, particularly during rush hours.
Agu claimed he personally experienced near-collision incidents at the location and said he had repeatedly been trapped in traffic gridlocks that affected his court appearances and professional duties.
The suit also challenges roadblocks allegedly mounted around Bank Road near Government House Junction, Owerri, where Agu claimed restrictions are enforced daily from approximately 6:30 p.m. to 6:30 a.m.
He argued that these checkpoints are often poorly marked, causing abrupt lane reductions and forcing drivers into unsafe manoeuvres. He further alleged that commercial vehicles and roadside passenger activities worsen congestion and increase the risk of accidents.
The applicant also raised concerns over alleged road obstructions near Umuaka Police Station on the Orlu-Owerri Expressway in Njaba Local Government Area, claiming that one side of the highway is frequently blocked, creating dangerous traffic conditions.
Beyond these locations, Agu alleged a wider pattern of unauthorised roadblocks and stop-and-search points across several major roads in Owerri and other parts of Imo State.
He further claimed that some checkpoints have effectively become points of extortion where motorists allegedly face arbitrary stoppages, delays and unlawful demands before being allowed to continue their journeys.
According to him, such practices amount to an abuse of policing powers and undermine constitutional democracy.
Agu maintained that the alleged roadblocks restrict movement, delay emergency services, increase safety risks and create psychological distress for citizens, while also affecting professionals and businesses through avoidable delays.
He urged the court to intervene in order to restore constitutional order, improve road safety and protect lives across the state.
The suit raises broader questions about the balance between security operations and the protection of citizens’ constitutional rights, particularly where measures intended for security are alleged to create additional risks and hardships.
No hearing date has been announced, and the allegations remain claims before the court pending judicial determination.
