JUST IN: YAHAYA BELLO IS REQUIRED TO PAY SDP’S AJAKA N500 MILLION AND PUBLICLY APOLOGIZE.

Babatunji Wusu –

Yahaya Bello, the governor of Kogi State, has been ordered to pay N500 million to Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate Murtala Ajaka in retaliation for Ajaka’s fundamental rights violations.

The directive was issued on Thursday by the Federal High Court in Abuja.

In addition to issuing a verdict, Justice Inyang Ekwo mandated that the Kogi State Governor issue a public apology to Ajaka “for the gross and unwarranted violation” of his rights.

The judge of the High Court ordered the leaders of the security services to make sure Ajaka was safe.

The court additionally issued “an order of injunction, restraining the security agencies from making an arrest, kidnapping, holding, or harassing, intimidating, shooting, or threatening the applicant’s life and property in the future.”

Ajaka’s attorney, S.E. Aruwa, SAN, filed an originating application on July 11 with the file number: FHC/ABJ/CS/952/2023, asking for court protection against Bello.

Respondents in the lawsuit were the Nigeria Police Force, the Inspector General of Police, the Commissioner of Police for Kogi State, the Department of State Service (DSS), and the Director General of the DSS.

The Chief of Defense Staff, Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Naval Staff, Director of the DSS Command in Kogi, and Commandant-General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) are among the other respondents.

The All Progressives Congress’ Usman Ododo defeated Social Democratic Party candidate Ajaka in the most recent Kogi State gubernatorial election. Bello was the candidate supporting Ododo.