Imported User:
A Federal High Court in Lagos on Wednesday ordered Mohammed Fawehinmi to serve all parties with the originating summons in the suit he filed questioning various bombing incidents in the country.
The suit, which has the President of the Federation and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) as defendants, also wants the court to determine whether Nigeria can be described as safe.
Also joined in the suit as defendants are the Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC); the State Security Service (SSS); the acting Inspector-General of Police; Head, Police Special Anti-bomb Squad; the National Security Adviser; and the Coordinator, Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA).
Mohammed, son of the late human rights lawyer, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, also sought the arrest of former military President, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida (Rtd), in connection with the killing of the renowned journalist, Mr Dele Giwa, through a parcel bomb on Oct. 19, 1986.
At the resumed hearing of the matter on Wednesday, counsel to the president and the AGF, Mr Fabian Ajogwu (SAN), told the court that he had filed two motions: one challenging the competence of the suit and the other for an extension of time.
``We are already out of the time stipulated by law, within which we can file our reply. So, we need the permission of the court to enable us to be able to file. We are ready to move the motion,’’ he said.
Mohammed, however, told the court that he had not been able to serve all the parties with the originating summons and also pleaded for time to file a counter to the preliminary objection raised by the President and the AGF.
Justice Binta Nyako, consequently, held that since all parties in the matter had not been served with the court processes, the matter was not ripe for hearing.
``I will adjourn the case to enable the plaintiff effect service on all the respondents,’’ she said.
Nyako then adjourned the case to Nov. 5, for mention. (NAN)
