The Federal High Court in Lagos on Wednesday dismissed the objection of
the police to the hearing of the N300m fundamental rights enforcement
suit filed by suspected kidnap kingpin Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, alias
Evans.
Justice Abdulaziz Anka, dismissed
police argument that the case was not ripe for hearing due to the
Inspector-General of Police and the Nigeria Police Force being served
with court papers in Lagos rather than in Abuja.
Justice Anka
upheld the argument by Evans’ lawyer, Mr. Olukoya Ogungbeje, that by
virtue of Order 5 Rule 2 of the Fundamental Rights Procedure Rules 2009,
the IG and the NPF were rightly served through their agents at Alagbon
in Lagos.
The court also agreed with Ogungbeje that Mr. Emmanuel
Eze, who appeared for the 3rd and 4th respondents in the case, had no
right to speak for the IG and the NPF, which were joined in the suit as
the 1st and 2nd respondents respectively.
BT
The judge agreed that
the coast was clear for the hearing of the suit on Wednesday as there
was proof of service on the IG and the NPF, which was exhibited before
the court.
Punch