[Mhiz Rebecca]

The Federal High Court in Lagos has fixed July 13 for
hearing in a N300m fundamental rights enforcement
suit filed by suspected kidnap kingpin,
Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike a.k.a. Evans, against
the Inspector-General of Police.
Evans, through his lawyer, Olukoya Ogungbeje, filed
the suit last week urging the court to order the police
to charge him to court or release him immediately.
He urged the court to award N300m damages against
the police in his favour for his alleged unlawful
detention without being charged to court.
A source at the court said on Wednesday that the case
was initially assigned to Justice Babs Kuewumi, but
was later returned to the court’s registry to enable it to
be assigned to another judge who would hear it during
the court’s long vacation.
The source said, “The case was assigned to Justice
Kuewumi. But due to its nature, the judge felt it would
be better handled by a vacation judge.
“He felt it would not be ideal to adjourn it for hearing
until after the long vacation in September.
“So, it was the judge who gave parties the July 13 date
to appear before the vacation judge after studying the
file.”
In the suit, Evans is seeking a court’s order directing
the respondents to immediately charge him to court if
there is any case against him in accordance with
sections 35 (1) © (3) (4) (5) (a) (b) and 36 of the
constitution.
He is, in the alternative, seeking an order compelling
the respondents to immediately release him
unconditionally in the absence of any offence that will
warrant his being charged to court.
Evans is contending that his continued detention by
the respondents since June 10, 2017, without being
charged to court or released on bail is an infringement
on his fundamental human rights.