PFIPC: Judge returns Adeyemi’s fundamental rights suit for reassignment

Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday returned to the court’s Registry for reassignment of a fundamental rights suit filed by the detained self-styled Director-General of the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), Adeniyi Adeyemi.

Justice Egwuatu declined to proceed with the hearing earlier scheduled for Thursday upon realising that the 72-hour he gave to respondents in the case to show cause had not expired.

At the mention of the case, Adeyemi’s lawyer,  Muhammad Abdulaziz, told the court that the respondents had been duly served and that he was ready to proceed with the hearing.

Abdulaziz said, “As ordered yesterday, all the respondents have been duly served and we are ready to proceed.”

Upon a directive by the judge, the court’s Registrar went through the case filed and confirmed that the order was served on the respondents on September 8, while the hearing notice was served on September 9.

Justice Egwuatu queried the timing of the service, noting that the 72-hour period given the respondents to show cause has not expired.

He questioned the competence of the proof of service exhibited by Abdulaziz in relation to the hearing notice.

The judge noted that the respondents were still within time to comply with the court’s order for  them to show cause.

Justice Egwuatu said: “Well, in any case, the 72 hours have not expired. And yesterday, you told me it will expire today and that was why I fixed today for hearing.

“You know the urgency of your matter, you are the one to do the needful.”

The judge, who is sitting as a vacation judge, said he would  return the case file to the court’s Registry for reassignment.

He directed the applicant to return when the time allocated to the respondents expires for further proceedings in the case.

Justice Egwuatu had, in a ruling on an ex-parte application by Adeyemi on September 3 ordered the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) to grant Adeyemi access to his lawyers.

Justice Egwuatu also ordered the IGP, the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and the AGF to show cause, within 72 hours, why the other reliefs sought by Adeyemi, including being granted bail, should not be granted.

Adeyemi (who is being held by the police) had sought six reliefs, including an order for his release from custody, bail pending the determination of the case, and access to medical practitioners of his choice.

He also sought an order restraining the police from interrogating him or obtaining a statement from him without his lawyer being present.