I was never summoned
I was never summoned by Federal High Court
over Sowore’s detention, Malami react
The Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation and
Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN was not summoned by the
Federal High Court, Abuja in respect of the detention of Omoyele
Sowore.
Malami made the disclosure in a statement issued by
his Special Assistant on Media and Public Relations, Dr. Umar
Jibrilu Gwandu, and made available to the Press and Public
Relations Unit of the Ministry on Wednesday 18th December,
2019.
The statement recalled that the issues that surrounded
the subject matter borders on the application filed by Sowore’s
lawyer on the 15th day of November 2019.
The matter came up before Hon. Justice I E. Ekwo on
the 6th day of December, 2019 for mention. The 1st & 2nd
Respondents were represented in the court. The Court
adjourned the matter to the 23rd day of January, 2020 for the
hearing of the substantive matter.
Surprisingly, on Tuesday the 17th day of December, 2019, the
Applicant’s Counsel adopted an ex-parte application filed on the
15th day of November, 2019 before Hon. Justice I E.
Ekwo.
However, the Court, being aware of the fact that
parties have joined issues, ordered that the Deputy Chief Registrar
(Litigation) shall inform the 1st & 2nd Respondents of the case
and the next adjourned date.
The court order in question was only to bring to the
notice of the Honourable Attorney-General and Minister of Justice
Abubakar Malami, SAN and the Director General of the State Security
Service to take notice that upon the motion ex-parte filed on
November 15th that applicants want an expedite hearing of the
matter.
According to the order obtained from the court, “an order is hereby
made that the Deputy Chief Registrar (Litigation) of this Court
shall bring this case and the next date of hearing to the notice
and attention of the 1st and 2nd Defendants”.
The Court also ordered that the casefile be remitted
to the Hon. Chief Judge for assignment to the vacation Judge for
hearing as the next adjourned date of hearing falls within the
vacation period
It is noteworthy that the day or date of the next adjourned date
was not indicated in the order of the Court.
Therefore, flowing from the above and the Order from the Court
dated Tuesday, the 17th day of December 2019 there were no evidence
to show that the Director DSS and the Ho. Attorney-General of the
Federation have
been summoned by the Court as some individuals want to allude.