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Lawrence Bajah, Abuja
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has directed the Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba Alkali to produce in court one Agborsangya Milton Eyong, a Cameroonian who was arrested by men of the force on 30th, December 2021 for allegedly dealing on prohibition ammunition.
When the case came up for hearing on Thursday, the Presiding Judge, Justice Rita Ajumogobia after entertaining arguments from counsels to both parties ordered the Nigeria Police to produce the applicant in court on Friday, 31, 2023.
Recalled that the suspect upon his arrest was detained and has been in police cell for 400 days over alleged criminal matters his counsel Danshita Shittu described as a bailable offence.
The ugly development, according to Shittu, prompted the applicant to press for his release at the Federal High Court.
In an Exparte Motion filed on the 7th day of March 2023, Shetu prayed the court to direct the Nigeria Police to release his client and for the court to admit him on bail pending the determination of the Originating Motion on Notice.
Ruling on the Exparte Motion on 21st, March, Justice Ajumogobia ordered the Nigeria Police to Produce Eyong in court on Thursday but the directive was not complied with.
In his argument, Mr Shittu urged the court to caution the Nigeria Police against disobeying lawful order of the court, threatening that he
would compelled to file contempt proceeding against the police authority.
Counsel to the Police, ASP, Joseph Essien Udoh refuted wilful act on the part of the authority of the police to disobey the court’s order.
He blamed the development on bid by the office of the Anthoney General of the federation to take over the prosecution of the suspect.
Justice Ajumogobia, however, ruled that the matter bordering on the fundamental human rights of the application demands a speedy trial and ruled that the earlier order for the respondents to produce the applicant in court on the next heating day subsists.
Justice Ajumogobia adjoined the matter till Friday for the Nigeria Police to produce the applicant in court for possible arrangements and hearing on his bail application.
Speaking with the media after the court proceeding, Counsel to the applicant, Mr Shittu described it as unlawful and absurd for a suspect to be detained without arrangement and trial for over 400 days.
According to him “Once they produce him in court, we are to go press for immediate bail, a 100 million naira compensation for unlawful detention, apologies from the police authority and must be published in at least two national newspapers.”
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