Justice Inyang Edem Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday ordered security agencies to provide maximum security for Murtala Ajaka, the candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the November governorship election in Kogi State.
The affected security agencies, including DSS and the police, are, by order, required to guarantee the safety of the SDP candidate, pending the hearing of a suit filed before the court.
The order was sequel to an 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 of Police and Commissioner of Police, Kogi State; DSS, its Director General, and its Kogi State director; 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 EEkwo, after reading the affidavit Ajaka deposed to in support of the motion as well as the submissions of his lawyer, S. E. Aruwa, SAN (with Divine J. Davies and A. I. Idris), held that the request of the applicant was meritorious and accordingly granted it as prayed.
“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 to 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 until July 21, the court ordered the applicant to serve the respondents with all the processes in this suit together with the order of the court.
