Court fixes new date for NBC president’s N1bn suit against Police, others
The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has slated May 17, 2025 to deliver judgment in the N1 billion fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by the president of the Nigerian Baptist Convention, Rev. (Dr.) Israel Akanji, against the Nigeria Police and several others.
The trial Judge, Justice Obiora Egwuatu fixed the date after the parties in the suit adopted their processes.
Akanji, in his fundamental rights enforcement suit, is seeking redress over what he described as a smear campaign, harassment, and rights violations following a petition accusing him of forging the constitution of the First Baptist Church, Garki, Abuja, and misappropriation of church funds.
In the suit marked, FHC/ABJ/152/2025, Akanji listed the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), the IGP, Senior Officers of the Nigerian Police, including CP Ajani Musibau Omolabi and DCP Rita Oki Oyintare, and others, including a petitioner, Engineer Adekunle Mokuolu as respondents.
According to the originating motion filed by his lawyer, Ovrawah Ogaga, SAN, Akanji is seeking among other reliefs, a declaration that his invitation, arrest and detention on the 5th of June , 2024 by the 1st to 6th Defendants as result of 7th respondent’s petition against him is wrongful, unlawful, illegal, unconstitutional and flagrant violation of his rights to his personal liberty.
He also sought an order of injunction restraining 1st to 6th respondents from further inviting, wrongly arresting, molesting and detaining him on the account of the “false, baseless and malicious” petition written by the 7th respondent among other reliefs.
The applicant is demanding an order that the respondents pay him, jointly and severally, the sum of N1 billion, being compensation and damages for the harassment and expenses suffered during the violations and deprivation of his fundamental rights.
However, the 7th respondent, Mokuolu, in a counter-affidavit in opposition to the originating motion, maintained that his petition was filed in good faith to address alleged abuse of office and financial irregularities against the church.
Mokuolu insisted that the police acted within their legal mandate by inviting Akanji, who was never arrested or detained as claimed, but was released on bail based on self-recognition on the same day he was invited by the 1st to 6th respondents.
He dismissed Akanji’s claim of rights violation, noting that the matter has already resulted in criminal charges pending before a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) sitting in Kwali, Abuja in a suit marked CR/1045/24.
The 7th respondent told the court that granting the fundamental rights reliefs sought by Akanji would undermine ongoing judicial proceedings and averred that, the 1st to 6th respondents have a duty to investigate crimes and were only carrying out their duty by inviting the applicant to help with their investigation.
He said it was untrue that he insisted that the 1st to 6th respondents invite the applicant to their office severally as he does not have the powers to control the way the Police carry out their duties under the law adding that, the applicant is not entitled to any cost as damages against the respondents who were carrying out their lawful duties.
Mokuolu asked the court to dismiss the motion as the interest of justice will not be served if the application is granted and prayed the court to dismiss the applicant’s case with substantial cost as “same is an attempt to shield himself from criminal prosecution.”
He argued that, “the Applicant has not established that the complaint of the 7th Respondent which borders on an allegation of forgery and misappropriation of funds was done mala fide”.
Meanwhile, the trial Judge, Justice Egwuatu has slated May 17 to deliver judgment in the matter.
