The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Director General, Department of State Security Services (DSS) and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) have been dragged before the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja over their alleged negligence in securing the Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi.
They were sued by a legal practitioner, Barrister Ken Eluma Asogwa, who argued that they have not been professional in discharging their duties.
The suit was marked FHC/HC/2023 and dated January 13.
The lawyer argued that the respondents breached the Chapter iv of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), Section 4 of October Police Act, Section 2(3) of National Security Agencies Act and Order 3 of the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules, 2019.
He told the court that the respondents allowed a mammoth crowd surround the LP presidential flag bearer at a campaign rally in Enugu, Enugu State.
Asogwa prayed the court to declare them negligent.
The applicant also prayed that the act was unlawful, wrongful and unconstitutional, and that he has the right to vote for Obi in the 2023 Presidential election “and a potential President of Nigeria whose presidency the applicant believes will be a source of liberation for him and that of his family, and the candidate is therefore entitled to full state protection by the respondents.”
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Furthermore, Asogwa prayed the court to declare that Obi is entitled to protection, being the presidential candidate of the LP and his choice for the forthcoming election.
In a 19-paragraph affidavit disposed to by the applicant in support of the Motion, he averred that Obi has the capacity and the competence to fix Nigeria and provide a better life for him and his family.
The applicant further stated that he has been following up with the campaign trails of Obi and was alarmed that in his campaign rallies, adequate security are not provided for him.
Citing the campaign in Enugu as an example, he said Obi was surrounded by a mammoth crowd which made it impossible for him to pass, and he was luckily taken away from the crowd for safety by unauthorized persons.
He further averred that his life and those of his family are dependent on future good governance which Obi has promised to offer; that the respondents have a statutory duty to provide adequate security and protect Obi’s life.
The applicant, therefore, seeks orders and interventions from the court to safeguard the life of Obi and protect the future of the applicant.