By Milcah Tanimu

Justice Ahmed Mohammed, a vacation judge at the Federal High Court in Abuja, has issued an order instructing the Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to provide maximum protection to Hon. Leke Abejide, the governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Kogi State. This protection is to ensure that he is not arrested or detained by Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello.

The restraining order, issued on Wednesday, came in response to an ex-parte application filed by Sammie Somiari (SAN) on behalf of the governorship candidate. The court order also bars the DSS, Police, and Governor Bello from inviting, arresting, detaining, or threatening the life and property of Hon. Abejide until the hearing and determination of the lawsuit against them.

The court order further compels the DSS, Police, and other relevant authorities to provide maximum security for Hon. Abejide in Abuja, Kogi State, and across the country during the pendency of the substantive suit.

The respondents in the lawsuit include Governor Yahaya Bello, the Nigeria Police Force, Inspector General of Police (IGP), Commissioner of Police (Kogi State), DSS, Director General of DSS, Director, DSS (Kogi State), and the Commandant-General, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

The ex-parte motion sought the enforcement of Hon. Abejide’s fundamental rights to life, dignity of person, personal liberty, fair hearing, peaceful assembly, and association.

The judge has scheduled September 20 for the hearing of the substantive suit. Hon. Abejide has alleged that Governor Yahaya Bello is attempting to harass, intimidate, and unlawfully detain him to prevent his participation in the November 11, 2023 governorship election, in favor of the governor’s chosen candidate in the All Progressives Congress (APC).