Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, the suspected billionaire
kidnapper popularly known as Evans, on Tuesday, January 16, 2018, had his N300
million fundamental right enforcement suit dismissed by a Federal High Court in
Lagos.
The suit, filed by Evans’ lawyer to challenge his 11-day detention
without being charged, was dismissed by Justice Abdulazeez Anka for lacking
merit.
Added to these, he argued that his client was subjected to
trial by media in the days following his arrest.
These were disputed by the counsel for the defendants that
included the inspector general of police, the Nigerian Police Force,
commissioner of police, Lagos State and the Lagos State Anti-Robbery Squad.
The counsel, Emmanuel Eze, said the suit lacks any merit and
should, therefore, be dismissed as no infraction was committed against the
applicant.
Delivering judgment in the suit, Justice Anka held that
Ogungbeje was unable to argue his case based on Section 35 and 36 of the
constitution.
The judge also ruled that the decision of the police to
detain Evans from June 10, till June 22, 2017, was reasonable, as the police
have shown that it had an order to that effect.
On the allegation of subjecting the applicant to media
trial, the judge held that no law forbids the media from carrying out its
constitutional duty. Consequently, Justice Anka held that suit could not
succeed and accordingly, dismissed same. “All parties have a right of appeal,”
the judge added.
Now that this distraction has been trashed, the law can focus on the charges preferred against him.
I predict a speedy trial.
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