By Taiye Agbaje
A Federal High Court in Abuja has threatened to strike out a fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by suspended DCP Abba Kyari against the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
Justice Inyang Ekwo gave the warning on Tuesday following the delay by Kyari’s lawyer, Cynthia Ikenna, to serve NDLEA Counsel, Joseph Sunday, her further and better affidavit after being served with the counter affidavit since Feb. 28.
At the resumed hearing, Sunday, a Director of Prosecution and Legal Services of the agency, said Ikenna only served on him the further and better affidavit this morning. “The matter was adjourned for hearing of fundamental rights enforcement of the applicant (Kyari). This morning, we were served with applicant’s further and better affidavit.
We filed our counter affidavit since Feb. 24 and served the applicant on Feb. 28; but today, they are just serving us.”
The lawyer argued that by virtue of Order 2 of Fundamental Rights Enforcement Civil Procedure Rules, 2019, the applicant was out of time to file the application. Ikenna, who complained that she had tried to meet with Kyari in NDLEA’s detention about three times but was denied access, prayed the court for more time to regularise the application. The Judge, in a short ruling, threatened to strike out the suit if the lawyer was unprepared in the next adjourned date.
“Put your house in order before the next date of hearing and if you do not, I will assume you are frustrating this matter and the suit will be struck out,”. Justice Ekwo adjourned hearing in the matter until April 7. (NAN News)
