By Ghazali Ibrahim
The Federal High Court in Abuja has delayed the hearing of a fundamental rights suit filed by detained Adeniyi Adeyemi, who is seeking his release or bail pending trial.
Justice Obiora Egwuatu returned the case file to the court registry for reassignment after ruling that the 72-hour period given to the respondents to respond to Adeyemi’s application had not yet expired.
Adeyemi’s lawyer, Muhammad Abdulaziz, told the court on Thursday that the respondents had been served and that his client was ready for the hearing.
But the court registrar confirmed that the order was served on the respondents on September 8, while the hearing notice was served the following day.
Justice Egwuatu questioned the timing of the service and also raised concerns over the validity of the proof of service for the hearing notice.
The judge consequently declined to hear the application, directing that the matter should return when the respondents’ response period had expired.
The court had earlier ordered the Inspector-General of Police, the Nigeria Police Force and the Attorney-General of the Federation to explain why Adeyemi’s remaining requests should not be granted.
It had, however, granted one of his requests by ordering the authorities to allow him access to lawyers of his choice at reasonable hours while in custody.
Adeyemi is also asking the court to order his release, grant him bail and allow him access to medical practitioners of his choice.
He wants the police restrained from interrogating him or obtaining a statement from him without his lawyer present.
He was arrested in Osun State in July after a Federal High Court issued a bench warrant following his repeated failure to appear for arraignment.
Adeyemi is facing an eight-count charge bordering on alleged forgery, fraud and impersonation over his claim to be the Director-General of the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council, an organisation the Presidency has disowned as “fake.”
His arraignment is expected to take place on September 30.
