Police application stalls judgement in Evans N300 suit

A bid by the alleged billionaire kidnapper, Chukwudumeme
Onwuamadike a.k.a. Evans, to challenge his continued detention
since June 10, 2017 at a Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos was on
Tuesday stalled owing to an application filed by the Inspector
General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris.

At yesterday’s proceedings, lawyer representing the IGP and the
Nigeria Police Force (NPF), David Igbodo, while drawing the court’s
attention to the application said his clients deserved to be heard
before any judgement can be delivered in the matter.

According to him, one of the reasons for bringing the
application is to urge the court to nullify the appearance and
submissions of one, Henry Obiazi, who appeared for both the IGP and
NPF on August 16 when the matter was fixed for judgement.

He said the lawyer was not authorized by either the IGP or the
NPF to represent them in court.

Consequently, he is asking the court to set aside the ruling
delivered at the last hearing when the matter was fixed for
judgement without hearing the IGP and the NPF.

Igbodo told the court that other respondents in the matter have
been served but the applicant rejected service.

But Evans lawyer, Olukoya Ogungbeje, opposed the hearing of the
application, saying it was intended to arrest the court’s
judgement. He also faulted claims by Igbodo that he evaded service
of the application on him.

According to him, there is nothing before the court again after
parties have canvased arguments and a date for judgement fixed.

Ogungbeje’s opposition was however overruled by the judge on the
ground that there are proof that he actually evaded service.

Meanwhile the court has adjourned hearing of the application to
September 5.

A bid by the alleged billionaire kidnapper, Chukwudumeme
Onwuamadike a.k.a. Evans, to challenge his continued detention
since June 10, 2017 at a Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos was on
Tuesday stalled owing to an application filed by the Inspector
General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris.

At yesterday’s proceedings, lawyer representing the IGP and the
Nigeria Police Force (NPF), David Igbodo, while drawing the court’s
attention to the application said his clients deserved to be heard
before any judgement can be delivered in the matter.

According to him, one of the reasons for bringing the
application is to urge the court to nullify the appearance and
submissions of one, Henry Obiazi, who appeared for both the IGP and
NPF on August 16 when the matter was fixed for judgement.

He said the lawyer was not authorized by either the IGP or the
NPF to represent them in court.

Consequently, he is asking the court to set aside the ruling
delivered at the last hearing when the matter was fixed for
judgement without hearing the IGP and the NPF.

Igbodo told the court that other respondents in the matter have
been served but the applicant rejected service.

But Evans lawyer, Olukoya Ogungbeje, opposed the hearing of the
application, saying it was intended to arrest the court’s
judgement. He also faulted claims by Igbodo that he evaded service
of the application on him.

According to him, there is nothing before the court again after
parties have canvased arguments and a date for judgement fixed.

Ogungbeje’s opposition was however overruled by the judge on the
ground that there are proof that he actually evaded service.

Meanwhile the court has adjourned hearing of the application to
September 5.