By WANDOO SOMBO

An Abuja Federal High Court has ordered security agencies to provide maximum security for Murtala Ajaka, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) Candidate in the November 11 governorship poll in Kogi.

Justice Inyang Ekwo gave the order on Thursday in a ruling in an ex-parte application brought before him by Ajaka.

Specifically, the court ordered the Chief of Defence Staff, Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Naval Staff, Department of State Services (DSS) and police to provide adequate protection for the candidate in any part of the country.

The order directs the agencies to guarantee Ajaka’s safety, pending the hearing of a suit filed before the court.

Ekwo made the order, following an ex-parte application dated and filed on July 11 by Ajaka.

In the application, the SDP flag bearer prayed the court for a restraining order against the security agencies from arresting, inviting, detaining or threatening his life and property pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.

Listed as first to 11^thdefendants in the suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/952/2023, include Gov. Yahaya Bello, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), the Commissioner of Police and DSS in Kogi.

Others are the Director-General of DSS, State Director DSS (Kogi), Commandant General of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, Chief of Defence Staff, Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Naval Staff.

The judge, after reading the affidavit deposed to by Ajaka in support of the motion and the submissions of his lawyer, Mr Sunday Aruwa (SAN), held that the request had merit.

He accordingly granted the request as prayed.

“An order is hereby made restraining the respondents, their agents, servants and anybody acting through or under them from arresting, inviting, detaining or threatening the applicant’s life and property, pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.

“An order is hereby made compelling the 2^nd– 11^threspondents to immediately provide maximum security to the applicant in Abuja FCT, Kogi and elsewhere in Nigeria, pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit”, he said.

Ekwo adjourned further hearing on the suit to July 21 and ordered the applicant to serve the respondents with all the processes in the suit, together with the order of court.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ajaka had earlier petitioned the IG, Mr Olukayode Egbetokun, over alleged threats to his life and those of his family members.

In the petition written by his lawyer, Mr Femi Falana (SAN), on his behalf, he urged the IGP to investigate the allegations of threat to life, attacks and trumped up charges of terrorism and treasonable felony brought against him.

Falana said the petition became necessary on the grounds that since Ajaka was nominated by his party as its candidate for the upcoming governorship poll, the governor had taken it upon himself to ensure that his political party and supporters did not enjoy peace in Kogi.

He further alleged that the candidate and his supporters were also being denied their right to exercise their fundamental rights of peaceful assembly and association.

According to the petition, without any legal justification, our client has become a victim of unwarranted harassment, intimidation and cheap blackmail. (NAN)