Kogi Gov Yahaya Bello Told To Pay SDP’s Candidate Ajaka N500 Million in Damages, Details Emerge

• Governor Bello has been ordered to issue a public apology for violating the rights of SDP candidate Ajaka
• Justice prevails as the court also demanded compensation from Governor Bello in the case against Ajaka
• The court's decision stems from a human rights enforcement application filed by Ajaka, who is seeking protection against Governor Bello's actions during the state's governorship election

Legit.ng journalist Esther Odili has over two years of experience covering political parties and movements

FCT, Abuja - On Thursday, December 7, a Federal High Court, Abuja division, has ordered Governor Yahaya Bello to pay Murtala Yakubu Ajaka the sum of N500 million for the violation of his fundamental human rights.

Meanwhile Ajaka was the candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the Saturday, November 11, 2023 governorship election.

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Justice Inyang Ekwo gave the order on Thursday, while delivering judgment between Ajaka as applicant and Governor Bello and others in a matter of human rights enforcement application, over the June 3 attack on, and attempted assassination of the candidate of the SDP in the poll, Sahara Reporters confirmed.

The court also ordered the Kogi Governor Bello to tender a public apology to Ajaka, which must be published/aired in print and electronic media, The Cable report added.

Real reason why court ordered Bello to pay Ajaka N500 million

The judgment was on a right enforcement suit, by Ajaka, in which he accused Bello of instigating security agencies to attack him and eliminate him over his decision to challenge his alleged anointed candidate, Ahmed Ododo, who contested on the platform of the APC, The Nation reported.

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BREAKING: Drama as gunmen allegedly steal Kogi gov’ship election petitions from tribunal’s secretary

He alleged that on June 3, while he left Abuja to pay courtesy visit to the Ohimege of Koto at Koton-karfe, his convoy was attacked after leaving the palace of the Maigari of Lokoja “with hail of bullets in an unprovoked attack against him and his supporters.

APC speculates about 'masterminds' of Kogi INEC REC attack

Earlier, Legit.ng reported that the APC blamed the attack by gunmen on the residence of the state residence electoral commissioner (REC), Gabriel Longpet on the SDP..

Kingsley Fanwo, the spokesperson for the APC campaign council, who spoke at a press briefing on Friday, December 1, said the arsonists also attempted to burn down the Kogi state government house.

According to Fanwo, the governorship candidate of the (SDP), Murtala Yakubu Ajaka, and his SDP supporters have shown enough evidence that they are violent and should be held responsible for what happened at the residence of the REC.

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'Accreditation data on IReV not manipulated' - INEC

Legit.ng also reported that INEC on Tuesday, November 14, refuted allegations that accreditation data on its result viewing (IReV) portal was manipulated during the Kogi governorship election.

INEC in a statement by Mohammed Kudu Haruna, national commissioner and member of the Information and Voter Education Committee, said media reports that it tampered with the accredited figures of voters in the Kogi governorship election results uploaded on the IReV portal "are unfounded".

Source: Legit.ng