On Thursday, the Federal High Court barred the Nigerian Police from inviting, arresting, and detaining Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) officials in Osun State.
The restraining order was requested and granted by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) branch in Osun ahead of the House of Assembly election on Saturday, March 18, 2023.
Judge Nathaniel Ayo-Emmanuel issued the decision in response to an application filed by Osun PDP officials in court.
Ibukun Fadipe, Sarafadeen Awotunde, Ojo Abiodun Michael, and Abiodun Ojo Fafa urged the court in an originating summons for the enforcement of their fundamental rights that PDP leaders and members face indiscriminate arrest and wrongful imprisonment.
They said that their detention was at the request of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in connection with the upcoming state House of Assembly election.
In respect to the electoral process, the PDP leaders asked the court to defend their fundamental rights to liberty, freedom of movement, and association.
Respondents in the court cases were the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), the Assistant Inspector General of Police (Zone XI Command Osun State), and the Commissioner of Police of Osun State.
In his decision, Judge Emmanuel granted the reliefs requested particularly by and in respect of the identified PDP leaders and members awaiting the outcome of the substantive originating summons for right enforcement.
DRILLOGIST recalls that the Osun PDP leadership had expressed concern over indiscriminate arrests of its leaders and members at the behest of the APC.
However, in response to the charge, the Osun APC asked the PDP to name the party’s imprisoned leaders.
The Osun APC also accused the PDP of assaulting and maiming its members across the state before to the presidential and National Assembly elections.
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