Justice Hamza Haruna of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court sitting in Maitama, has ordered the Kogi State Commissioner of Police, Bethrand Unuoha to stop harassing, arrest or in any way intimidating the Spokesperson of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), in Kogi state Mr Faruk Adejoh-Audu.
Others in the restraining order are the Inspector General of Police, the Director-General of the Department of State Security (DSS) and the Kogi State Director of DSS, untill the determination of a motion on notice.
Asejoh- Audu is the court, seeking the enforcement of his fundamental human rights, claiming that his life has come under serious threat from the defendants.
Adejoh-Audu, a veteran journalist, activist, politician and SDP Spokesperson had gone to court after altercations between him and the Kogi State Police Commissioner, Unuoha on election matters after which the later publicly threatened the spokesman to expect some unstated consequences.
The SDP Spokesperson had on November 29, 2023, accused the Police Chief of collaborating with thugs to attack the interest of his party in the recently conducted governorship election in Kogi.
However, the Police Commissioner held a press conference the next day in Lokoja and gave Adejoh-Audu 24 hours ultimatum to substantiate his allegations or “be ready to face the consequences of his actions.”
The SDP Spokesperson took up the challenge in a 17-paragraph reply justifying his allegations and accusing the Police Chief of resorting to self-help by threatening to ” visit unstated consequences” on him.
An FCT High Court presided over by Justice Hamza.Muazu after listening to O. U. Salifu lawyer to the SDP Spokesman in an ex-parte application, granted the order restraining the Inspector General of Police, The Director-General of the DSS, the Kogi State Commissioner of Police and the State Director of DSS from arresting or interfering with the liberty of the applicant.
The court has adjourned the matter to December 18, 2023, for the hearing of the Motion On Notice.
