Yomi Aliyyu (SAN), a counsel to Yoruba Nation activist, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Igboho, has reacted to the Federal Government’s plan to appeal a judgement against his client.
The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, had told NAN in New York that the Federal Government may file fresh charges against the agitator despite the N20 billion in damages awarded in his favour
An Oyo State High Court judge, Ladiran Akintola, had awarded the money as “an exemplary and aggravated damages” against the AGF and the Department of State Services, over the invasion of Igboho’s home in Ibadan on July 1.
Malami said the position of the Federal Government on the judgment was about “law and jurisdiction”.
“As far as this matter is concerned, which court is it that has the jurisdiction to determine it? And as you rightly know, obedient to court orders and court judgments,” he said.
“But then you have to understand within the context of such obedience that there are associated rights and interests that are vested in the Federal Government.
“Inclusive of rights of appealing against a judgment, inclusive of the right to file an application for setting aside the purported judgment and order.
“And indeed, inclusive of the possibility of filling a fresh action if indeed the jurisdiction of the court that was alleged to have indeed handed that judgment is an issue.
“So, we are doing the needful in terms of looking at the law as it exists and then working within the context of the law in ensuring that justice is done as far as the contending issues between the parties are concerned,” the minister was quoted as saying.
He posted, “#SundayIgbohosRights: Hon AGF, Malam Malami SAN, finally agreed that he would abide by the judgment of Ibadan High Court pending the time he will either apply to set the judgment aside or file a new application(?) or file a fresh charge or appeal the judgement! Meaning our client, CHIEF SUNDAY ADEYEMO A.K.A IGBOHO OOSA, will not be harassed, molested or even killed until the Federal Government makes up his mind on what it will do!
“However, one wonders what fresh application or charge MLBS Malami SAN, is referring to! We wish him safe trip back to Nigeria from New York where a foreign journalist confronted him with the N20 billion judgment we got against DSS and himself.”
The court had awarded N20 billion against DSS for the “illegal” invasion of Igboo’s home in Ibadan on July 1.
The invasion led to the arrest of 12 Igboho’s aides, while Igboho managed to escape arrest.
Following the raid, Igboho sued the Federal Government and demanded ₦500 million as special damages for the damage done to his house and his car and another N500 billion as exemplary and aggravated damages.
Igboho also sought an order of the court directing the respondents to return all the items seized from the house.
He listed the items to include, N2 million cash, one thousand Euros, travel documents including international passports belonging to him and his family members, gold jewelry and wristwatches, two mobile phones, and other items yet unknown but which were allegedly carted away by the SSS.
