A Federal High Court in Abuja presided by Justice Inyang Ekwo on Friday reaffirmed its order directing security agencies in the country to provide “maximum security” to Murtala Ajaka, the Social Democratic Party candidate in the November 11, 2023 governorship election in Kogi State.
He restated the order at the beginning of hearing in the suit instituted by Ajaka against Governor Yahaya Bello and others.
He also restrained the defendants from arresting or detaining him pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit
Justice Ekwo warned that since all the parties had submitted themselves before the court, they should not take steps that would either overreach themselves or jeopardise the trial.
The judge subsequently adjourned hearing until September 21.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Ajaka had filed the suit over alleged threat to his life and members of his family.
He also accused the defendants of plan to arrest and prosecute him over alleged complicity in terrorism activities in the state.
The plaintiff had, on July 11, filed an ex-parte application praying the court to restrain the security agencies from arresting, inviting, detaining or threatening his life and property pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.
The security agencies, by the order, were to guarantee the safety of the SDP candidate, pending the hearing of a suit filed before the court.
In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/952/2023, Ajaka sued Governor Bello, the Inspector-General of Police, Commissioner of Police (Kogi State), Department of State Services, Director General of DSS, Director DSS (Kogi), Commandant-General of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, Chief of Defence Staff, Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Naval Staff as 1st to 11th respondents respectively.
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In the case, he sought an “order restraining the respondents, their agents, servants and anybody acting through or under them from arresting, inviting, detaining or threatening the applicant’s life and property pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.
“An order compelling the 2nd – 11th respondents to immediately provide maximum security to the applicant in Abuja FCT, Kogi State and elsewhere in Nigeria pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.”
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