#EndSARS: Court to rule on suit against Pastor Adeyemi, others June 30
By Olalekan Awojodu
Abuja
Justice Bello Kawu of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court sitting in Kubwa, Abuja on Tuesday granted the application to dismiss the criminal charge against all #EndSARS celebrities.
The court, after considering all submissions of the celebrities, adjourned the matter to June 30, 2021, for ruling.
An activist, Mr Deji Adeyanju represented the celebrities, while Kenechukwu Okeke who instituted the suit was also in court.
Recall that the substantive motion to dismiss the criminal charge had early been filed against the 50 celebrities at FCT, Wuse Zone 6 Magistrate Court by Okeke.
At the resumed sitting, the lead counsel representing the celebrities, Ihensekhien Samuel Jnr, described Okeke’s application as incompetent and frivolous, arguing that it should be discountenance in its entirety.
“The application is full of mere rhetoric, idioms and devoid of legality,” Ihensekhien noted.
In its ruling, the court granted the applicant’s 1st application and motion to regularize and bring in the #EndSARS celebrities’ substantive application to dismiss Okeke’s criminal charge.
The court also considered the frivolous application of Okeke to dismiss the suit of #EndSARS celebrities and strike out the court orders of stay of proceedings on Okeke’s criminal charge, delivered by the court on January 13, 2021.
Okeke had filed the criminal suit against the activists for their roles in the protests at Wuse Zone 6 Magistrates’ Court, Abuja before a Chief Magistrate II, Omolola Tolulope Akindele.
The lawyer alleged that during the protest, his belongings were destroyed and that the defendants who promoted the #EndSARS protests must be brought to justice.
Those listed as defendants include Pastor Sam Adeyemi, Senior Pastor of Daystar Christian Centre; Kanu Nwankwo, former Nigerian international footballer; Innocent Idibia, Nigerian singer and songwriter popularly known as 2face; Adeleke, Nigerian Afropop singer, better known as Davido.
Others listed in the suit include Aisha Yesufu, Kiki Mordi, Peter Okoye, Paul Okoye, Deji Adeyanju, Tiwa Savage, Folarin Falana (Falz), Feyikemi Abudu, and Debo Adebayo.
