MACE THEFT: Court grants Omo-Agege immunity from arrest

Nigerian Police Force (NFF) and the Department of State Service (DSS), and other security agencies have been ordered not to arrest Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, over his alleged role in the Wednesday invasion of the Nigerian Senate.

The order was given by an Abuja High Court sitting at Maitama, Abuja on Thursday, and presided over by the Chief Judge of the High Court, Justice Isahq Bello, following an ex-parte motion Omo-Agege filed before the court through his team of lawyers.

The senator, who represents Delta Central at the Senate, is accused of masterminding thugs’ invasion of the Senate and theft of the Mace, the legislative’ symbol of authority, on Wednesday.

But ruling on the ex-parte motion by the Senator, Justice Bello issued “An order of interim injunction restraining the respondents, their agents and/or servants from arresting and/or detaining the applicant either in their custody of any other law enforcement agency, or its servants, agents or privies or through any person working in concert with the respondent as its agents, by whatever means or however described pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice filed in this suit.

“An order of interim injunction restraining the respondents, their representatives, agents or privies, howsoever described from any attempt or threat to violate the applicant’s fundamental right to personal liberty and right to freedom of movement pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice filed in this suit.”

The court further issued, “An order of interim injunction restraining the respondents from taking any or further steps detrimental to the applicant’s aforementioned fundamental rights to the applicant’s rights in connection with the facts stated in this matter pending the hearing of the motion on notice filed in this suit.”

READ ALSO: Fallout from the Omo-Agege drama? Election sequence reordering suffers setback at NASS

According to the court, the orders will remain effective till the senator’s fundamental right enforcement suit is heard and determined by the court.

Respondents in the matter are the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami, the IGP, Mr. Ibrahim Idris, the Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, Sadiq Bello, and the Director-General of SSS, Lawal Daura.

After transferring the substantive suit marked: FCT/HC/CV/1522/2018, to Justice Usman Musale of the high court in Jabi, Justice Bello then adjourned hearing on of the matter till May 7.

 

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