Posted by By OLA AGBAJE on
The court has barred the police and the State Security Services (SSS) from interfering with the freedom and liberty of the former Ekiti State governor, Dr Ayodele Fayose.
The court has barred the police and the State Security Services (SSS) from interfering with the freedom and liberty of the former Ekiti State governor, Dr Ayodele Fayose.
Justice Tijani Abubakar of the Federal High Court, Lagos, handed down the order barring the two security institutions from tampering with Fayose's freedom while ruling on a motion ex-parte brought and argued by his counsel, Dr Alex Izinyon (SAN).
According to the trial judge, who granted the order permitting the former governor to enforce his fundamental human rights, the order shall operate as a stay of all action in the matter.
'That leave granted by this court operates as stay of all actions by the Nigeria police and State Security Services, including arrest, detention, molestation and restriction of applicant's movements," the judge ruled.
Justice Tijani also ordered the plaintiff to serve the order and all processes in the suit on both the Inspector General of Police and the Director-General of SSS, the two respondents in the suit, while adjourning further hearing to July 16, 2007.
Underscoring the need to comply with the order in furtherance of positive development under President Umar Musa Yar'Adua government toward enthronement of the rule of law, Izinyon wrote two separate letters to the Solicitor General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Professor I. Iyua and the Director-General of SSS.
According to the letters, dated July 6, 2007, Izinyon urged both Iyua and the director general of SSS to ensure full compliance with the court order in line with the precedent already set by the president.
He reminded the Solicitor General that he was duty bound to advise both the police and SSS on the need to obey the court order and avoid any act of self help in the matter.
'We implore you to prevail on the two respondents to obey the order and seek the due legal process if they feel aggrieved by it. The days of lawlessness and flagrant disregard of court orders witnessed in the last dispensation are now over.
'Thanks to the new era of purposeful leadership of the current President and Commander-in-Chief, His Excellency, Alhaji (Umar) Musa Yar'Adua, GCFR. We must all join hands to ensure the enthronement and revival of the rule of law in Nigeria," he said.
The order granted the former governor is expected to be a real litmus test for the government on its avowed promise to always abide by the rule of law and ensure total obedience to court orders.