Kogi Election: Court restates order directing security agencies to protect SDP candidate

A Federal High Court in Abuja reaffirmed its order on Friday, directing the security agencies in the country to provide “maximum security” to Mr Murtala Ajaka, the Social Democratic Party (SDP)’s candidate in the Nov. 11 governorship election in Kogi

Justice Inyang Ekwo restated the order at the beginning of the hearing in the suit instituted by Ajaka against Gov. 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 the hearing until Sept. 21.

Supreme reports that Ajaka had filed the suit over an alleged threat to his life and that of members of his family.

He also accused the defendants of planning to arrest and prosecute him over his 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 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 Gov. Bello, the Inspector-General (I-G) of Police, Commissioner of Police (Kogi State), Department of State Service (DSS), Director General of DSS, Director DSS (Kogi), 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.

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.”