The scheduled judgement in the fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by the suspected billionaire kidnapper, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike a.k.a. Evans, challenging his continued detention since June 10, 2017, at a Federal High Court, Lagos, was on Tuesday stalled owing to an application filed by the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris.
At the resumed proceedings on Tuesday, lawyer representing the IGP and the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), David Igbodo, a Commissioner of Police, while drawing the court’s attention to the application said his clients deserved to be heard before any judgement can be delivered in the matter.
According to him, one of the reasons for bringing the application is to urge the court to nullify the appearance and submissions of one, Henry Obiazi, who appeared for both the IGP and NPF when the matter came up on August 16, before it was fixed for judgement.
Igbodo told the court that the lawyer was not authorized by either the IGP or the NPF to represent them in court.
Consequently, he urged the court to set aside the ruling delivered at the last hearing when the matter was fixed for judgement without hearing the IGP and the NPF.
While urging the court to allow him move the application, Igbodo said other respondents in the matter have been served but the applicant rejected service.
In his response, Evans’ lawyer, Olukoya Ogungbeje, expressed his opposition to the hearing of the application, saying it was intended to arrest the court’s judgement. He also faulted claims by Igbodo that he evaded service of the application on him.
According to him, there is nothing before the court again after parties have canvased arguments and a date for judgement fixed.
Ogungbeje’s opposition was however overruled by the judge on the ground that there are proof that he actually evaded service.
Hearing of the application has been fixed for September 5.
