December 07, (THEWILL) – The Federal High Court, Abuja, has ordered Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, to pay Murtala Ajaka, governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), the sum of N500 million.
The court also restrained security agencies from arresting, “abducting/detaining and/or further harassing, intimidating, shooting/threatening the applicant’s life and properties.”
The order followed a ruling delivered on Thursday, in an originating motion marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/952/2023, filed on July 11 by S.E. Aruwa (SAN) on behalf of Ajaka against Bello.
The Nigeria Police Force, the Inspector General of Police, the Kogi State Commissioner of Police, the Department of State Service (DSS), and the Director General of the DSS were joined in the suit as respondents.
Other respondents are the Director of the DSS Command in Kogi, the Commandant-General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the Chief of Defence Staff, the Chief of Army Staff, and the Chief of Naval Staff.
Ruling on the judicial protection suit on Thursday, Justice Inyang Ekwo, who ordered Bello to pay Ajaka N500 million, also ordered Bello to publicly apologise to Ajaka “for the gross and unwarranted violation” of his rights.
The court also ordered security agencies and their heads to ensure Ajaka’s safety.
“An order of injunction, restraining the security agencies from arresting/abducting, detaining and/or further harassing, intimidating, shooting/threatening the applicant’s life and properties,” the court held.
