Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court Abuja has ordered the Senate President, Bukola Saraki; Senators Dino Melaye and Ben Murray-Bruce to honour police summons over the October 5, 2018 protest staged at Abuja following the declaration of the All Progressives Congress as the winner of the governorship election in Osun State.
Saraki and other Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chieftains had protested outside the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Force Headquarters in Abuja.
They were, however, dispersed by the police with tear gas canisters when they had attempted to address their supporters at the entrance gate of the Force Headquarters.
Justice Abang, however, ruled in the fundamental human rights suit filed by Saraki and two others that their allegations against the police lacked merit and that the police power to detect and investigate crimes as stated in Section 4 of the Police Act could never amount to harassment or intimidation.
Justice Abang, also awarding the cost of N50,000 against the three applicants.
Abang further held that the Police, having alleged in that the PDP procession was dispersed following the protesters’ riotous and criminal conduct, had the power to invite suspects for questioning.
He ruled that the Police invitation extended to them remained valid, adding by honouring the invitation it could be determined if their rights had been violated.
“The court cannot restrain the Police from carrying out their statutory function; and in this case, they have acted within the provision of Section 4 of the Police Act,” Justice Abang said.