A Federal Capital Territory High Court has granted an order restraining the Inspector General of Police from arresting a lawyer and human rights activist, Barrister Leo Ekpenyong.
The order, which was granted on Wednesday, October 16, also restrains the Commissioner of Police, Federal Capital Territory, The Commissioner of Police, Akwa Ibom State, The Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari, The Officer-in-Charge of Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Guzape, Abuja and the State Security Service from arresting pending the determination of the substantive matter.
According to the certified true copy of the order given in suit No: FCT/HC/BW/CV/01/2019 and signed by the Registrar, Ibrahim Ya’u, the order restrains the respondents either by themselves or their agents acting on their behalf from re-arresting, detaining, restricting, inviting, intimidating or doing any act that is capable of infringing on the applicants right with respect to the case pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice.
It will be recalled that on Monday, October 7, 2019, Barrister Ekpenyong a well known critic of the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Mr Udom Emmanuel was abducted from his base in Abuja and taken to SARS cell in Abuja where he was detained overnight and flown to Uyo in the morning.
The team was led by the officer-in-charge of Akwa Ibom State anti-robbery squad and acted based on a petition by the Akwa Ibom State Government.
Barrister Ekpenyong had in a widely circulated article: “Judgement for sale in Akwa Ibom State National Assembly Elections Petition Tribunal” exposed how Justice W.O. Akanbi and Justice Ebetu were bribed with a whopping $1.5 million by Governor Udom Emmanuel to enter judgment against the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio.
Last week, the Akwa Ibom State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barrister Uwemedimoh Nwoko had confirmed a plot to have Barrister Ekpenyong arraigned before a Magistrate in Uyo.
In the main suit Barriater Ekpenyong is claiming N500 million damages from the Police for intimidation, unlawful arrest, and illegal detention.
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