The N300 million suit brought against the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, and three others, by suspected billionaire kidnapper, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike aka Evans, challenging his continued detention was yesterday adjourned again till September 21.
Before adjourning the matter, Justice Chuka Obiozor of the Federal High Court, Lagos held that there was no urgency for the suit to be heard during vacation again.
The judge, who is sitting as a vacation judge, held that with the arraignment of Evans before the state high court last week Tuesday, there was no longer urgency in the suit.
The suit was filed during vacation and affidavit of urgency was attached with it. In the suit, Evans, through his lawyer, Olukoya Ogungbeje, is seeking a court order directing the police to charge him to court immediately or release him on bail if they are not ready to charge him to court.
Ogungbeje argued that Evans’ detention since June 10, 2017 without being charged to court was a violation of his client’s fundamental rights enshrined in sections 35 (1) (c) (3) (4) (5) (a) (b) and 36 of the constitution.
For his alleged unlawful detention without being charged to court, Evans wants the court to award N300m damages against the police in his favour. Other respondents in the suit are the Nigerian Police, Commissioner of Police (COP) Lagos State and the Lagos State Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the command.
Another vacation judge, Justice Abdul-Azeez Anka of the Federal High Court, Lagos had earlier fixed August 29 to deliver judgment but due to fresh application filed by IGP and the police, the court fixed another date for the judgment.
The court fixed yesterday for the hearing of fresh application filed by IGP and the police.
However, at the yesterday proceedings, Justice Obiozor, held that there was nothing urgent in the matter again due the latest development on the matter. The court, therefore, adjourned till September 21, for further proceedings.
Evans and his co-accused were arraigned before the state high court, Ikeja on a two-count charge on August 30., 2017He was docked before Justice Akeem Oshodi and he pleaded guilty to the two count charge of conspiracy and kidnapping leveled against him and five members of his gang.
