Court stops police from arresting 68 Obaseki’s allies
A High Court in Edo State has issued an order restraining the Nigeria Police from arresting 68 associates of former Governor Godwin Obaseki.
The ruling follows a petition submitted by the acting chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state last July.
The affected individuals include political appointees, local government chairmen, and aides, among others.
The case, referenced as B/266M/2024, lists the Inspector General of Police, the state Commissioner of Police, the Deputy Inspector General of Police (Force CID Abuja), and the Police Service Commission (PSC) as respondents. Representing the applicants, senior counsel Olayiwola Afolabi (SAN) sought an interim injunction to prevent the police from arresting his clients.
Granting the injunction, Justice AT Momodu ruled:
“An order of interim injunction is hereby made restraining the respondents either by themselves, police officers in their department and/or any police officer acting under their instruction from inviting, arresting and detaining the applicants in any of respondents’ office, in respect of the petition written by the chairman of All Progressives Congress (Edo State) dated 18/07/2024 to the 1st respondent pending the hearing and determination of the originating motion filed by the applicants in the enforcement of their fundamental human right.
“It is further ordered that the enrolled order of the order be served along with the originating motion on the respondents.”
The interim order remains in effect until the substantive suit is determined.