Police ask court to dismiss cleric’s suit, pledge cooperation with NBA

The Lagos Command of the Nigerian Police has asked a Lagos high court, Ikeja to dismiss a fundamental rights suit filed against the Police and three others by Pastor Samson Ayorinde of the World Evangelism Church over investigation on alleged issuance of dud cheques.

Ayorinde and others had filed the suit through their counsel, Emmanuel B. Benjamin against Mr. Oludare Amos Aturamu, Mrs. Kemi Adesanya, Smart Link Property Services, Commissioner of Police, Lagos, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) in-charge of State Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department (SCIID) Panti, Lagos and Officer-Charge of Assistant Commissioner Section as well as SP Alhaji Aminu, of SCIID, Panti, Lagos.

Ayorinde alongside the Registered Trustees of World Evangelism Incorporated and Revered Harold Chinoyerem of the same Church filed the action seeking a declaration that their harassment, intimidation, threat of arrest, detention and invitation by the police at the instance of some people is violation of the fundamental rights to personal liberty as guaranteed under section 34 and 35 of Nigeria constitution.

The trial judge, Justice Adebayo Adesanya has adjourned further hearing to June 21, 2018.In a related development, the Commissioner of Police (CP) Lagos State, Edgar Imohimi has reiterated the determination of the command to partner with the NBA in order to ensure continuous harmonious relationship between lawyers and the police.
 
CP Imohimi made this known when receiving in his office at Ikeja the National Welfare Secretary of the NBA, Mr Adesina Adegbite accompanied by some of the executive members of young lawyers forum who paid him a working visit.Imohimi said the command has already established good relationship with five NBA branches in the state and develop a way of settling issues between them without rancour.
 
He therefore assured the visiting national officers of the NBA that the Police will respond quickly in the event of any issue that may arose between the two parties.In his earlier speech, Adegbite told the CP that the visit was due to recent skirmishes between the Police and some members of the bar.He said aside from the issue of Adeyemi Abijo of Ikeja Branch of the NBA, the association also received complaints from other branches of the NBA, including Ikorodu Branch of assault meted on them by some officers of the Nigerian Police.He stressed the need for continuous engagement between them to avert a recurrence of similar incidence, particularly on human rights infringement and relations.