2nd September, 2010
In an apparent move to stall the execution of the warrant of arrest issued against him by an Abuja High Court, the Inspector General of Police,Mr Ogbonna Onovo this morning dispatched his lawyers to appear before Justice Olukayode Adeniyi to explain the reason behind his inability to appear before the court as directed.
Mr. Henry Njoku, explained to the court that the Inspector General of Police did not receive any of the orders issued by the court against him.
The lawyer said that the police authorities became aware of the pendency of the suit through newspaper publications which reported the court’s order directing law enforcement agencies in the country to arrest and detain the police boss.
He further explained that even the bench warrant for Mr. Onovo’s arrest was mistakenly served on the Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, Mr. John Haruna and not at the Force Headquarters.
The lawyer was obviously at pains to explain away Mr. Onovo’s disobedience to the honourable court when he was confronted with evidence of service indicating that all the orders made against the police boss and other respondents in the suit were duly served as required by law.
Mr. Onovo’s lawyer resorted to sentiments when he pleaded with the court not to shut them out in the determination of the motion on notice filed by the lawyers to Mr. Austine Duru and two police corporals who were being detained by the police for over eleven months on allegation of being involved in kidnapping and armed robbery in Anambra State.
Justice Adeniyi magnanimously allowed the police boss time to file in his papers in his defence and adjourned till Tuesday next week for the continuation of the case while ordering him to give effect to the court’s order directing him to release Mr. Onyebuchi Eze, one of the detainees who is said to be suffering from acute appendicitis.
The suspects have been in police detention since July, 2007 when they were arrested in Imo State on the allegation that they were implicated in armed robbery and kidnapping activities in Anambra State.
They were transferred to Abuja since then for investigation and possible trial. Neither has taken place since then.
—Nnamdi Felix / Abuja