A High Court of the Federal Capital
Territory (FCT) in Jabi, Abuja, Wednesday ordered the Nigerian Police to
halt its interrogation of the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, over
the Offa bank robbery, pending the determination of a fundamental rights
suit brought against the federal government.....
Justice M. A. Nasir gave the restraining
order while ruling on an exparte motion brought by 10 human right
lawyers led by the National Chairman of APP party, Mr. Ikenga Imo
Ugochinyere, seeking the enforcement of the fundamental human rights of
the Senate President as guaranteed by section 34,35,36, and 41 of the
Nigerian Constitution and article 2,4,5,6,10 and 12 of the African
Charter on Human and peoples right.
In the suit marked: M/8280/2018, the
plaintiffs asked the court to among others, restrained the respondents
from interrogating, harassing, inviting, arresting, detaining or taking
any action that would infringed on the fundamental rights of the Senate
president pending the hearing and determination of the substantive
Matter.
The motion filed on their behalf by
their counsel, E. C. Nweke is dated July 30, 2018, and supported by a 35
paragraph affidavit.
Aside the Nigerian Police Force, other
respondents in the suit include the Attorney General of the Federation
(AGF) and the Inspector General of Police (IG).
Ruling on the exparte motion, Justice
Nadir, directed the respondents to “stay all actions related to this
suit pending the determination of the originating motion fixed for
16/8/2018.”
The plaintiffs in the substantive suit
is seeking a declaration that the continuous harassment and invitation of
Saraki by the IG and the police in connection with the offa robbery
based on trumped up, unfounded and unsubstantiated allegations of crime
is unlawful, unconstitutional, oppressive and in gross violation of the
Senate president’s fundamental rights.
A declaration that the continuous
invitation of Saraki by the police with the intent to investigate,
arrest, detain and prosecute him based on the interim report of the
Director of Public Prosecution of the federation, when the said report
did not disclose that Saraki was guilty of any criminal offense is
arbitrary, illegal, unconstitutional, null and void.
The plaintiffs therefore prayed the
court for an order setting aside the letter of invitation dated July 23
and or any other letter by the police in respect of the offa robbery
issue.
The plaintiffs on behalf of the Senate president is also seeking the sum of N1 billion compensation for damages.
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