A Federal High Court in Abuja Division presided by Justice Inyang Ekwo has ordered the Inspector-General of Police and the Ebonyi State Government to stay action on the resolution of the State Security Council meeting declaring a former member of the House of Representatives, Linus Okorie, wanted over alleged security breach.
Justice Ekwo specifically ordered parties to the suit including the Department of State Services to maintain status quo ante bellum, pending further orders of the court. He also issued an order directing the applicant to serve all the processes in the case on the respondents by substituted means, by delivering to any adult, official, staff or person or by pasting at Ebonyi State Liaison office, at plot 146, Mississippi Street, off Alvan Ikoku Way, Abuja.
He made the interim orders after listening to a motion exparte moved by counsel to the applicant, Okoro Nkemakolam. In the substantive suit, Okorie dragged the state government and the Inspector-General of Police before a Federal High Court over an alleged threat to his life and breach of his fundamental rights.
In addition, he was seeking the order of the court nullifying, invalidating, and setting aside in its entirety, the resolution of the SEC meeting of January 25, 2022, especially the directives of the fifth to ninth respondents, by which he was indicted and declared wanted contrary to the provisions of Article 7 (b and c) on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act, Cap A9.
The Ebonyi State Government had on January 25, 2022, declared the ex-federal lawmaker wanted for allegedly posting inciting statements on his Facebook page, which heated up the polity, particularly in Ikwo Local Government. Further hearing of the motion on notice has been adjourned till February 21, 2022.
