A Federal High Court sitting in Jos, the Plateau State capital, has restrained the police from re-arresting the Ekiti State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Jide Awe, and four other members over alleged murder of Ayo Jeje and Juliana Adewumi during a political crisis in Erinjiyan-Ekiti, Ekiti State.
Others granted relief are Faboro Ojo John, Aniramu Basiru, Falayi Busuyi and Owonifari Sefiu.
Defendants are the Inspector General of Police, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Plateau State Commissioner of Police and Ekiti State Commissioner of Police.
In a motion under the enforcement of their fundamental right and fundamental rights enforcement procedure brought before Justice A. Lewis-Allagoa, the plaintiffs, in suit no. FHC/J/CS/102/2014, prayed the court to declare as unconstitutional the planned and threatened arrest, detention and arraignment in connection with the fact leading to their previous arrest and arraignment for the murder.
The plaintiffs argued that the offence for which they were being targeted for re-arrest had previously been heard by a competent court of jurisdiction and the case dismissed having been discharged and acquitted of all the offences relating to or connecting with the murder.
They also argued that they cannot be re-arrested, detained and re-arraigned for the offence having been previously discharged and acquitted over the murder charge.
