Stay Off Unical Chapel Of Redemption, Chaplain – Hon Justice Ayua, Orders Unical VC  Offiong And Others

By Lawrence Mpama

The air of uncertainty, authoritarianism, provocation and outright subversiveness that has permeated Unical Chapel of Redemption (UCOR) for some time now, has been cleared by the federal high Court sitting in Port Harcourt, the River state capital by Hon Justice  Phoebe M. Ayua.

In a suit brought before the federal high Court, Port Harcourt, by Rev Dr Joseph Ushie, against the Vice Chancellor, Professor Offiong Effangha Offiong, and 5 others including Prof Paul Ajah, over the flagrant violation of his constitutional rights, the presiding judge, Hon Justice Phoebe M Ayua, after carefully listening to counsel  arguments with sworn affidavits of pronounced violations by  the defendants, the Court  issued an interim injunction barring the University of Calabar Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Offiong E. Offiong, management and other respondents from interfering with the UNICAL Chapel of Redemption activities pending the determination of a substantive fundamental rights suit instituted by Rev. Dr Joseph Ushie.

In the order granted by Hon. Justice Phoebe M. Ayua in Suit No. FHC/CA/FHR/87/2026, as filed by Rev. Ushie against the following- VC, Prof. Offiong; the Registrar, Dr (Mrs) Chukwuka I. Icha; the University of Calabar; Prof. Paul O. Ajah; the Special Adviser to UNICAL VC on Religious and Related Matters, Rev. Timothy Ebere; and Chairman of Christian Council of Nigeria, Cross River State Chapter, Most Rev. Offiong Mensah, PhD, as first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth respondents, respectively, the presiding judge stated that there was a clear case of violations by the defendants.

The applicant had approached the court seeking the enforcement of his fundamental rights under Sections 36, 38 and 41 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), as well as the Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules, 2009.

ev. Ushie requested in his Ex parte motion orders restraining the respondents from harassing, intimidating, threatening or assaulting him while exercising his right to worship at the UNICAL Chapel of Redemption. He also sought to stop any attempt to enter, take over, lock up or otherwise interfere with the chapel premises, disrupt worship activities or alter the chapel’s established structure and practices pending the hearing of the substantive suit.

After hearing submissions from the applicant’s counsel, Ntufam Mba E. Ukweni, SAN, and considering the supporting affidavit, Justice Ayua granted an interim injunction restraining the respondents or anyone acting on their behalf from entering, trespassing upon, taking over, locking up or interfering with the premises of the UNICAL Chapel of Redemption until the substantive suit is determined.

Hon Justice Phoebe M Ayua  also ordered the respondents to refrain from taking any further steps relating to the subject matter of the dispute and directed that the status quo ante bellum be maintained pending the hearing and determination of the substantive application. The matter has been adjourned to the 20th of August, 2026 for the determination of the substantive suit.