Court Halts IG from Proscribing Benue Livestock Guards

A High Court sitting in Makurdi, Benue State capital, Thursday halted the Inspector General of Police (IG) and the Benue State Commissioner of Police from prohibiting or shutting down offices of the Benue State Livestock Guards in any part of the State.

Justice Austine Ityonyiman, who presided over the court also in the interim order restrained the IG and the Benue State Commissioner of Police from preventing officers of the livestock guards from carrying out their functions of implementing the state’s anti-open law, pending the determination of the motion on notice brought before the court.

The Benue State Government through its counsel, Douglas Pepe, had prayed the court to restrain the Nigerian Police whom he stated where acting outside the scope of their constitutional mandate and the court granted the request.

Pepe had argued that the livestock guards was a creation of the law and the body was carrying out its functions as stipulated by the legislation establishing it.

The judge after listening to the argument of Pepe, and carefully perusing through the affidavit in support of the motion, upheld the counsel’s application pending the determination of the motion on notice.

The matter has been adjourned to November 23, for hearing.