The Edo State High Court has issued a restraining order against the Nigerian Police, preventing the arrest of 68 political associates linked to former Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki.
The ruling comes in response to a petition filed in July 2024 by the Acting State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), targeting a group of Obaseki’s close allies. The individuals involved include former political appointees, local government leaders, aides, and other associates.
The group, represented by their legal counsel, Olayiwola Afolabi (SAN), approached the court seeking protection from what they described as unlawful arrests and detentions instigated by the APC chairman’s accusations.
The case, marked as B/266M/2024, names the Inspector General of Police, the Edo State Commissioner of Police, the Deputy Inspector of Police (Force CID Abuja), and the Police Service Commission as respondents.
Presiding over the matter, Justice A. T. Momodu granted an interim injunction, barring the police and its agents from inviting, arresting, or detaining the applicants based on the APC’s petition until a further hearing. The court also ordered that the motion and injunction be served to the respondents.
In the ruling, Justice Momodu stated: “An order of interim injunction is hereby issued, restraining the respondents or any police officer acting on their instructions from inviting, arresting, or detaining the applicants in relation to the APC’s petition dated 18/07/2024, pending the full hearing of the applicants’ motion to safeguard their fundamental rights.”
The APC chairman’s petition includes allegations against Obaseki’s associates, but the applicants claim that the charges are politically motivated and an infringement on their rights.
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