The FCT High Court sitting in Kubwa Abuja has dismissed a motion filed by Government-sponsored activist Kenechukwu Okeke to strike out the substantive suit filed by the 50 celebrities to stop their trial and direct criminal complaint/suit filed against them.
The court also by this ruling upheld all injunctive orders restraining the Nigeria Police Force, Kenechukwu Okeke from taking any steps and prosecuting the 50 Nigeria celebrities involved in this case and over the #end sars protest.
Okeke had filed a suit in his personal capacity at the FCT magistrates court Wuse zone 6 against all the 50 celebrities support and involvement in the October 2020 #endsars protest by the celebrities tweeting about the #end sars protest using their Twitter handle and other social media platforms.
Ruling on the matter on Friday,Justice Bello Kawu held that the injunctive orders made by the court and the suit of the celebrities filed by the Human rights activists, Deji Adeyanju in his representative capacity is proper and legal in law as the FCT high court sitting in Kubwa is acting in it’s supervisory jurisdiction over the lower magistrate court, against the criminal suit filed by Kenechukwu Okeke.
The lead counsel to Deji Adeyanju, Samuel Ihensekhien, representing 49 others persons in the suit commended the ruling adding that it was a victory for the ordinary people of Nigeria, and a pointer that peaceful protest is not a crime in Nigeria.
He said the landmark ruling would enable the court to take and entertain their final application to quash and dismiss the frivolous, direct criminal complaint and charge filed by Kenechukwu Okeke at the Magistrate Court against the celebrities.
According to Ihensekhien
” By virtue of today’s ruling his motion of dismissal of this substantive case has been dismissed by the honourable FCT high court. The consequence of it is that the court will hear the substantive application to formally dismiss the pending criminal complaint and charge before the Magistrate court.
” We are so happy and justice can still be found in Nigeria in spite of the elaborate and extensive arguments over whether this case should be dismissed or not . Thank God the court held in our favour and we are so grateful “
The matter has been adjourned to 7th September 2021.
