The Muhammadu Buhari regime says it is considering filing fresh charges against Yoruba Nation agitator Sunday ‘Igboho’ Adeyemo’s N20 billion human rights win.
Mr Igboho was on September 17 awarded N20 billion damages by the Federal High Court in Oyo, following a suit brought against the Buhari regime by his counsel, Yomi Alliyu, after the State Security Service (SSS) invaded his house without a warrant on July 1.
The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in New York that the federal government had the right to appeal the judgement or file a fresh charge.
Mr Malami told NAN that, “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.
“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 right to file an application for setting aside the purported judgment and order.
“And indeed, inclusive of the possibility of filing 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 explained.
Mr Igboho had through his counsel, Mr Alliyu, filed a N500 billion fundamental human rights enforcement suit against the AGF, SSS and the Director of the SSS in Oyo State over the invasion of his home in Ibadan.
Mr Alliyu claimed that his client’s house and cars were damaged, while two occupants of the house were killed by SSS operatives during the incident.
(NAN)
