The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Thursday, ordered the Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, to pay the sum of N500 million to the governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Murtala Ajaka, for violating his fundamental rights.
While delivering judgment, Justice Inyang Ekwo also ordered the Kogi State Governor to publicly apologize to Ajaka “for the gross and unwarranted violation” of his rights.
The High Court judge directed the security agencies and their heads to ensure Ajaka’s safety.
He further made “an order of injunction, restraining the security agencies from arresting/abducting, detaining and/or further harassing, intimidating, shooting/threatening the applicant’s life and properties”.
Ajaka had sought judicial protection against Bello in an originating motion marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/952/2023, filed on July 11 by his lawyer, S.E. Aruwa, SAN.
The Nigeria Police Force, the Inspector General of Police, Kogi State Commissioner of Police, the Department of State Service (DSS), and the Director General of the DSS were joined in the suit as respondents.
Other respondents are the Director of the DSS Command in Kogi, the Commandant-General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the Chief of Defence Staff, the Chief of Army Staff, and the Chief of Naval Staff.
Ajaka, who is the candidate of the Social Democratic Party, lost the recently held Kogi State governorship election to Bello’s backed candidate, Usman Ododo of the All Progressives Congress.