Court Adjourns Ruling On Evans’ Case Against Police

The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, adjourned till Wednesday to rule on whether to hear a fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by suspected billionaire kidnapper, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, popularly known as Evans.

Justice Abdulaziz Anka adjourned the case on Tuesday, after listening to the submissions of counsel to Evans, Olukoya Ogungbeje; as well as the counsel to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad and the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Emmanuel Eze.

In the suit, Evans is asking the court to declare that his continued detention since June 10 without arraignment violates his fundamental rights as guaranteed under the 1999 Constitution.

He also seeks a declaration that his parade on June 11 before journalists at the Lagos Police Command Headquarters in Ikeja without any court order was unconstitutional and illegal.

He prayed the court for an order compelling the respondents to jointly and severally pay him the sum of N300m as exemplary damages for his alleged illegal detention and alleged harm caused by his media trial.

On Tuesday, August 15, Mr Eze told Justice Anka that the suit was not ripe for hearing as the Inspector General of Police and the Police Commissioner, who are distinct legal personalities, have not been personally served with the court processes.

UCJ, UNILORIN.