A Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday ordered Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello to pay N500 million to the Social Democratic Party (SDP) governorship candidate, Murtala Ajaka, for violating his fundamental rights.
Justice Inyang Ekwo also ordered Bello to publicly apologize to Ajaka “for the gross and unwarranted violation” of his rights in his decision.
In addition, Justice Ekwo issued an order mandating security agencies and their heads to protect Ajaka’s safety.
The court also issued “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” .
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Ajaka requested court protection against Bello in an originating motion marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/952/2023, filed by his counsel, S.E. Aruwa, SAN, on July 11.
Respondents in the suit include the Nigeria Police Force, the Inspector General of Police, the Kogi State Commissioner of Police, the Department of State Service (DSS), and the Director General of the DSS.
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 are among those who have responded.