A Federal High Court in Abuja has issued an order requiring security agencies in the country, including the Chief of Defence Staff, army, navy, DSS, and police, to provide maximum security for Murtala Ajaka, the candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the November governorship election in Kogi State.
Justice Inyang Edem Ekwo granted the order in response to an ex-parte application filed by Ajaka seeking a restraining order against the security agencies from arresting, inviting, detaining, or threatening his life and property pending the hearing of the substantive suit.
The ex-parte application, dated July 11, requested the court’s intervention to prevent any actions that would jeopardize Ajaka’s safety. The court directed the security agencies to ensure Ajaka’s safety until the hearing and determination of the main suit.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/952/2023, names the Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, the Inspector General of Police, 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 the 1st to 11th respondents, respectively.
Justice Ekwo, after considering the affidavit deposed by Ajaka and the submissions made by his lawyer, Mr. Sunday Aruwa, SAN, deemed the application meritorious and granted the requested orders. The court prohibited the respondents from arresting, inviting, detaining, or threatening Ajaka’s life and property and mandated them to provide maximum security for him in Abuja, Kogi State, and elsewhere in Nigeria until the determination of the substantive suit.
The court adjourned the case to July 21 for the hearing and ordered the applicant to serve all the processes in the suit, including the court’s order, to the respondents.
Prior to seeking the court’s intervention, Ajaka had submitted a petition to the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Olukayode Egbetokun, through his lawyer, Chief Femi Falana, SAN. In the petition, dated July 12, Ajaka accused Governor Yahaya Bello of orchestrating violent attacks against him, his political party, and his supporters, using his executive powers.
The petition highlighted an incident on June 3, 2023, where Ajaka and his supporters were attacked by gunmen dressed in police uniforms, allegedly connected to the Kogi State Government. Ajaka’s convoy was targeted with the intent to assassinate him, resulting in injuries to some of his supporters.
Falana urged the Inspector General of Police to investigate the threats to Ajaka’s life, attacks on him and his supporters, and the alleged trumped-up charges of terrorism and treasonable felony. He called for the demobilization of armed thugs and killer squads deployed by the State Government for political intimidation.
The court’s order provides Ajaka with constitutional protection and ensures that his right to vote and be voted for is upheld while awaiting the hearing of the substantive suit.