The Federal High Court in Abuja has levied a hefty fine of N500 million against Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State for infringing upon the fundamental rights of Murtala Ajaka, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate in the 11th November gubernatorial election.
Justice Inyang Ekwo delivered the verdict, also mandating Governor Bello to apologise to Ajaka for the unwarranted violation of his rights.
Moreover, the court issued an order to security agencies to ensure Ajaka’s safety and safeguard his property within Abuja, Kogi, and Nigeria at large before, during, and after the gubernatorial poll held on 11th November.
The judge further imposed an injunction restraining security agencies from engaging in acts such as arresting, detaining, harassing, or threatening Ajaka’s life and properties.
Ajaka had filed a motion seeking protection from the court, citing Governor Bello and several security agencies as respondents. He claimed fears of an illegal abduction by these respondents to coerce him into Kogi State, allegedly endangering his life.
Ajaka recounted incidents of threats and intimidation, alleging that Governor Bello demanded he step down from the gubernatorial primary race under the All Progressives Congress (APC), accompanied by life-threatening warnings.
Following his move to the SDP and securing its gubernatorial candidacy, Ajaka alleged that threats against his life persisted, culminating in a violent attack on his convoy during a courtesy visit.
He accused Governor Bello of orchestrating the attack, alleging that security agencies, at Bello’s direction, fired upon his convoy, damaging vehicles and causing chaos.
Delivering the judgment, Justice Ekwo said he found that none of the governor’s averments in the entire affidavit, was specific.
“In other words, they are merely general averments. Furthermore, none of the averments specifically mentions the incident of 3rd June, 2023 and proffer a defence thereto,” he said.
He held that Bello’s counter affidavit was feeble and failed to effectively challenge Ajaka’s case.
His words: “It is my finding that the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th respondents violated the rights of the applicant as enshrined in Chapter IV of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
“The case of the applicant succeeds on the merit against the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th respondents in this case and I so hold.
“In awarding damages in this case, I will take into account the trauma of the applicant of being shot at by those whose statutory duty is to protect the citizens, acting under the command of the 1st respondent (Bello) who is statutorily the chief security officer of a state for a cause that is manifestly unlawful but inhuman.
“I will also take into consideration the physical and mental anguish of the applicant when he stood in utter helplessness and watched the 1st respondent using his political might through the apparatus of the state for security and law enforcement to shoot and burn down the campaign vehicles of the applicant’s political party.
“I will further take into account the near-death experience of the applicant and the mental torture that comes with it, when the vehicle in which he was, was riddled with bullets from the guns that ought to have been used to protect him and other citizens.
“It must be understood that fundamental rights of all citizens are sacrosanct and unless as authorised by law, any action by which an unlawful breach thereof is successfully proved, will be determined to reflect the depth of condemnation by the court.”
Thank you Nigeria for the justice god bless Nigeria God bless our court God bless Mr president
Nigerian politics