By CHARLES IWUOHA

A high court sitting in Enugu has restrained the Inspector General of Police from arresting the Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Enugu State, Ben Nwoye.

Also restrained were the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyema, Personal Assistant to Onyema, Flavour Eze, the Officer in Charge of IGP’s Intelligence Response Team IRT (IGP Response Command).

Nwoye had approached the court for a restraining order following incessant calls he has been receiving from police operatives Headquarters in Abuja asking him to report himself.

The suit filled before Justice K I Okpe with No E/228/2020 has DR Been Nwoye, the party’s legal adviser, Barrister Benjamin Nebe, and the State Administrative Secretary, Evaristus Asadu, as applicants while the Foreign Affairs Minister, Geoffrey Onyema, his personal Assistant, Flavour Eze, the Inspector General of Police, and the officer in Charge IGP IRT (IGP Response Command).

“That an order of interim injunction is hereby granted to the applicants restraining the Respondent’s whether by themselves, their agents, men, officers or privies from arresting, detaining or in any manner restricting the Applicants’ rights to personal liberty and freedom of movement pending the hearing and determination of the substantive motion on notice.

“That this suit is further adjourned to the 6/5/2020 as the next return date,” the order stated.

Addressing journalists on the development, Nwoye said he approached the court which is the last hope of the citizenry for protection.

He accused the Minister of trying to use his office and the police breach his fundamental human rights.

The Enugu APC Chairman said he has been receiving calls from police Headquarters in Abuja over a petition written against him by the foreign affairs Minister.

He stated that the move to arrest him might not be unconnected with similar petition written to the police against the youth leader of the party in Enugu West Senatorial District, James Nwanjoku over alleged social media post on the minister’s COVID19 status.

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