A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Thursday ordered security agencies in the country to provide maximum security to the candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the November 11 governorship election in Kogi State, Alhaji Muritala Yakubu Ajaka.
Justice Inyang Edem Ekwo issued the order while delivering a ruling in an ex-parte application made before him by the governorship candidate.
By the order of the court, the affected security agencies, which include the Chief of Defence Staff, Army, Navy, DSS, and the Police, are to guarantee the safety of the SDP candidate, pending the hearing of a suit filed before the court.
The order was a sequel to the ex-parte application dated and filed on July 11, which sought a restraining order against the security agencies from arresting, inviting, detaining, or threatening the applicant’s life and property pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.
Defendants in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/952/2023 are the Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, the Inspector General (IG) of Police, the Commissioner of Police (Kogi State), DSS, Director General of DSS, Director, DSS (Kogi State) Commandant General of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Chief of Defence Staff, Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Naval Staff as 1st to 11th respondents respectively.
Justice Ekwo, after reading the affidavit deposed to by Ajaka in support of the motion, as well as the submissions of his lawyer, Mr. Sunday Aruwa (SAN), held that the request of the applicant was meritorious and accordingly granted it as prayed.
Justice Ekwo said, “An Order is hereby made 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 is hereby made 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”, the judge ruled.
Before adjourning till July 21 for the hearing, the court ordered the applicant to serve the respondents with all the processes in this suit together with the order of the Court.