Court Bars Lagos State From Enforcing Mandatory Vaccination Without Consent

The Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, has ruled that the Lagos State Government cannot compel residents to receive vaccines without their consent.

Delivering judgment in Suit No. FHC/L/CS/1854/24 – Equity International Initiative v. Lagos State Government & Others, Justice A. Lewis-Allagoa held that the claimant, Equity International Initiative, was right to approach the court and granted all the reliefs sought in the suit.

The court dismissed the preliminary objection filed by the Lagos State Government and proceeded to determine the substantive case in favour of the civil society organisation.

In its ruling, the court held that the Lagos State Government cannot compel the vaccination of any child or adult resident in the state. It further ruled that no child can be vaccinated without the prior written consent of a parent or guardian, while adults must also provide written consent before any vaccination is administered.

The court also restrained the state government from implementing vaccination directives contained in circulars issued in October 2024, or any similar circulars, without obtaining the prior written consent of parents, guardians or the individuals concerned.

Speaking to journalists after the judgment, counsel for Equity International Initiative, Mobisola Odimegwu, described the ruling as a landmark decision.

She said the judgment affirms the constitutional rights of residents and underscores the importance of informed consent in medical procedures.

Around the world vaccine without consent is been challenged. In December 2025, The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services HHS opened an investigation into a complaint that a Midwestern school illegally vaccinated a child with a federally provided vaccine without the parents’ consent by ignoring a religious exemption submitted under a state law.

Leading to The (HHS) announcing strong actions to protect the rights of parents within the practice of pediatric medicine.

With several reported cases of vaccine injuries especially during the post covid-19 era and other investigations by the U.S center for disease control CDC on the cause of autism in children it is only pertinent to pay attention to healthcare and have legitimate concerns about what goes into our bodies. 

The ruling by the Federal High court sitting in Lagos, could have broader implications for public health policy and vaccination campaigns in the country, particularly where questions arise about consent and government authority.

Lagos State officials have not yet indicated whether they will challenge the judgment, as no comment from the defendant was provided with regards to that.

Lawyers representing the Lagos State Government included Director of Civil Litigation, E.O. Akande, alongside A.T. Iyinade. They represented the Lagos State Government, the Lagos State Healthcare Board and the Attorney General of Lagos State in the proceedings.

The ruling is expected to have implications for the implementation of vaccination policies and public health directives in Lagos State.