Court Orders FG To Allow Access To Detained MEND Leaders

Lanre Adewole, Abuja - 23.02.2008

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Friday ordered the Federal Government to allow access to the detained leaders of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), Henry Okah and Edward Atatah, by their relatives, lawyers and doctors.

The presiding judge, Justice Babs Kuewumi, gave the order following an ex-parte application brought by their counsel, Mr. Femi Falana.

In his ruling, the judge ordered that, “It is hereby ordered that the respondents should allow the family members, lawyers and doctors of the applicants to visit them in custody from time to time.”

The respondents in the suit are Attorney-General of the Federation (A-GF), Inspector-General of Police and the Director of State Security Services.

The judge also granted leave to the applicants to enforce their fundamental rights to personal liberty, dignity of their person, fair hearing and freedom of movement, though their prayer for unconditional release was rejected.

He ordered that the respondents should be put on notice, and court processes be served on all the respondents through the office of the A-GF in Abuja.

Earlier, Falana had told the court that the arrest and detention of his clients without warrant since February 14 constituted a violation of their fundamental rights to personal liberty.

He said that the respondents had no power to keep them in detention beyond 24 hours without charging them to court.