Kogi Guber: Keep SDP Candidate, Ajaka Safe – Court Orders Security Agencies
BY VICTOR BUORO – Ahead of the November 2023 governorship election in Kogi State, respite has come for the Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate, Murtala Ajaka with a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja ordering security agencies to ensure his maximum security and safety.
The order was issued by Justice Inyang Ekwo on Thursday while ruling on an ex-parte application made before him by SDP flag bearer alleging threats to his life and family.
And those directed by the Court to guarantee the candidate’s safety and security pending the hearing of a suit filed before the court include the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), the Nigerian Army and the Nigerian Navy.

Also covered by the Court order are the Department of State Services (DSS); the Nigeria Police; and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) among other security agencies.
After going through the affidavit deposed to by Ajaka in support of the motion, as well as submissions made by his counsel, Mr. Sunday Aruwa (SAN), the Court held that the applicant’s request was meritorious and accordingly granted the prayers.
Dated July 11, 2023 and filed same date, the ex-parte application had sought an order restraining the security agencies from arresting, inviting, detaining or threatening the applicant’s life and property pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.
Available Court documents indicate that among defendants in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/952/2023, are the Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State; the Inspector General (IG) of Police; Commissioner of Police (Kogi State); and the DSS.
Others include: Director General of DSS; Director DSS (Kogi State); Commandant General of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC); Chief of Defence Staff (CDS); Chief of Army Staff (COAS); and Chief of Naval Staff (CNS). They are all identified in the Court papers as the 1st to 11th respondents respectively.
According to Justice Ekwo; “An Order is hereby made restraining the respondents, their agents, servants and anybody acting through or under them from arresting, inviting, detaining or threatening the applicant’s life and property pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.”
The Court further ruled thus; “An Order is hereby made compelling the 2nd – 11th respondents to immediately provide maximum security to the applicant in Abuja FCT, Kogi State and elsewhere in Nigeria pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.”
Consequently, the court ordered the applicant to serve the respondents with all the processes in the suit together with the Order of Court. The case was thereafter adjourned to July 21 for hearing,
The court order on Thursday comes on the heels of an earlier petition by the SDP candidate to IGP Olukayode Egbetokun alleging threats to his life and members of his family from Governor Yahaya Bello.
Dated July 12, 2023 and written through his Counsel, Chief Femi Falana (SAN), the SDP candidate’s petition accused the Governor of “using his executive powers” to “lunch series of violent attacks” on him, his political party and teeming supporters
Furthermore, the petition said; “Our client’s brief is that since he was nominated by his party as its candidate for the forthcoming governorship elections in Kogi State, the State Governor, ALHAJI YAHAYA BELLO has taken it upon himself to ensure that our client, his political party and supporters would not enjoy peace in Kogi State or be allowed to exercise their fundamental rights of peaceful assembly and association”.
Describing Governor Bello’s action as illegal and unlawful, Chief Falana said his client has become a “victim of unwarranted harassment, intimidation and cheap blackmail” by the Kogi government and some agencies of the state.
Recounting a recent incident involving the petitioner, Falana said; “For instance, while on a thank you tour of the state on June 3, 2023, our client was attacked along with his team of supporters at about 12.30 pm after visiting the palace of His Royal Highness, the Ohimege of Koton-Karfi.
“The dastardly attack took place while our client and his supporters were returning to Lokoja around the Banda Nataco Axis. Our Client’s convoy was attacked by armed gun men who were dressed in police uniform in official vehicles of the Kogi State Government.
“Life bullets were sporadically fired directly at our client with the sole intent to assassinate him. While our client was lucky, some of his supporters were seriously injured and were rushed to the hospital where they were treated for different degrees of bullet wounds.
“It is worthy to note that shortly after this incident the Governor of Kogi State addressed his supporters on this incident wherein he referred to himself as a Lion returning to his jungle and our client as an antelope that crossed the part of the lion and threatened to deal with our client the next time he crosses his part.”