A Federal High court sitting in Abeokuta has struck out the Fundamental Human right suit filed by Mr. Ayokunle Ewuoso and Mr. Sina Oduntan against the Ogun state commissioner of Police and Mrs. Oluremi Olugbenro to challenge their arrest over the assault on female journalists at Iwe Iroyin, Oke Ilewo Secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ in February this year. 

Ruling on the suits marked FHC/AB/FHR/33/22 and FHC/AB/FHR/34/21, the presiding Judge, Justice Remi Oguntoyinbo awarded the cost of forty thousand naira against each of the applicants as cost for bringing the second respondent, Mrs. Olugbenro to court. 

Counsel to the first and second applicants, Mr. Ayokunle Ewuosho and Mr. Sina Oduntan, Mr. Deji Eniseyin who was conspicuously absent in court having been served with counter affidavit had filed an application to discontinue the case claiming that the matter had been settled amicably.

Counsel to the second defendant, Mrs. Oluremi Olugbenro, Mr. Gani Ogunsanwo while reacting to the submission that the matter had been settled informed the court that he was not aware of any settlement and asked the court to award costs against each of the applicant if the court was inclined to grant the application for withdrawal.

Mr Ogunsanwo then pleaded that the judge should award fifty thousand naira as cost against each of the applicants for bringing his client to the court.

Counsel to the first defendant, Ogun State Commissioner of Police, Mr Adeyemi Olukoya had also informed the court that he was misled that the applicants had filed applications to discontinue the suit.

Justice Oguntoyinbo in her ruling on the matter, agreed that the applicants had the right to discontinue with the matter, but pointed out that they could not run away from the liabilities.

The Judge stated that the second respondent, (Mrs. Remi Olugbenro) having filed the necessary counter affidavits before the court had joined issues in law and was entitled to cost.

She then awarded the cost of forty thousand naira against Mr. Ayokunle Ewuoso, the first applicant and the sum of forty thousand naira against Mr. Sina Oduntan, the second applicant.

The third suit filed by Mr. Abiodun Taiwo, which was earlier slated for hearing on Tuesday, 19th October 2021 but could not be heard due to the public holiday was however adjourned till 2nd of December 2021 for hearing at the same Federal High Court, Abeokuta.

Wale Oluokun

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