A Lagos High Court, sitting in Ikeja, has ordered the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency to pay popular comedian, Babatunde Omidina, the N25 million damages awarded him against the agency within 21 days.
Omidina, popularly known as Baba Suwe, was awarded the damges for his detention over a hoax drug traffficking arrest for which he was detained for several days.
Justice Yetunde Idowu, who gave the order on Friday for the agency to pay Omidina the N25 million, however, granted the agency’s prayer for a stay of execution of the judgement until when the appeal it filed is determined.
Idowu said: “I grant a conditional stay of execution.
“The N25 million judgement debt should be paid to the Chief Registrar of the Lagos High Court who will in turn pay it into an interest-yielding account of a bank that both parties choose.
“The money should be paid within 21 days from today.”
She said that the NDLEA did not show any proof that paying the money will harm its operation in any way, adding: “What was brought is a mere piece of paper that does not show any details of spending and expenditure.”
The judge remarked that collecting a bank guarantee in lieu of the judgment debt pending appeal means leaving the money with the debtor to do as he wishes until the case is determined.
The cost was awarded to Omidina on November 24, 2011.