Nigeria, Oct. 19 -- The Kaduna State High Court has struck out a controversial suit filed by the state Commissioner of Police seeking to suspend all political rallies and meetings by opposition parties.

The court ruled that the move was unconstitutional and an abuse of power. It also awarded N15 million in favour of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) for breach of fundamental rights.

The case was filed by the Commissioner of Police, Kaduna State (the Applicant) against the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the Social Democratic Party (SDP) (the Respondents).

The police had approached the court through an originating summons dated 4 September seeking declaratory and injunctive orders to halt all political gatherings in the state pend...