.As judge declines bail application.
Detained former Commander of Intelligence Response Team (IRT), Force Intelligence Bureau, Nigerian Police Force, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari, has instituted a suit at the Federal High Court Abuja, against the Federal Government.
The suit filed on DCP Kyari’s behalf by his lawyer, Cynthia Ikenna, was brought pursuant to Order 11 Rules 1, 2, and 3 of the Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rule 2009.
By the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/182/22, the plaintiff wants an order of court directing the Federal Government to pay him the sum of N500,000,000.00 (Five Hundred Million Naira) for unlawful violation of his constitutional right provided for in Sections 35 and 36 of the 1999 Consutution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended.
The applicant also is praying for a declaration that his arrest and continuing detention by agent of the FG without bringing him before a court of competent jurisdiction from 12th of February 2022 till date is “illegal, unlawful and a gross violation of Applicants’ fundamental right to personal liberty and freedom of movement guaranteed by section 35(1) of the 1999 Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and Article 6 of the African Charter on human and Peoples Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act”.
The plaintiff equally wants “A declaration that announcing the Applicant in the Press without giving him right to fair hearing nor establishing a prima-facie case against him is illegal, unlawful and an infringement on his fundamental right.
More so, Kyari is seeking a declaration that the torture, degrading and inhuman treatment meted out on him by the agent of the FG is illegal, unlawful and an infringement on his fundamental human right.
The suspended DCP is also asking the court to declare
that refusal to grant him administrative bail on alleged bailable offence is unlawful and an infringement on his
fundamental human right.
“An order of Court restraining the respondent, its agents, servants, privies, police or anyone acting on their behalf from further harassing, detaining, intimidating, arresting the Applicant unlawfully.
“An order of Court directing the Respondent to tender written apology to the Applicant in two National daily newspapers”.
In a statement of facts in support of the originating motion, deposed to by Cynthia Ikenna, DCP Kyari predicated his suit on the grounds that the National National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, an agent of the respondent had
declared him wanted because of a “mere allegation that he was trying to bribe an NDLEA officer without sufficient proof.
Kyari claimed that the Nigerian Police Force based on the allegation of the Respondent (FG) arrested him on the 12th day of February 2022, and handed him over to the NDLEA.
He stated that since 12th of February 2022, he has been kept in custody till date without bringing him before a court of competent jurisdiction and without access to his medical treatment.
In addition, Kyari told the court that his arrest and continued detention is an infringement on his fundamental human right.
“The allegation upon which the Applicant is arrested and detained is a trump
up allegation without sufficient proof.
“The Applicant is a decent Police officer who has distinguished himself in areas of serving his father’s land as a Police officer.
“The Applicant has risked his life in so many areas in the name of serving and protecting his father land as a Police officer, and needs to be compensated and not to be dragging about, receiving, torture, degrading and inhuman treatment by anybody or agency whatsoever.
“There is no sufficient proof that that Applicant has committed any offence to warrant this torture, degrading and inhuman treatment.
“All the efforts made for the Agency to grant the Applicant administrative bail
proves abortive. “That faced with the above situation and scenario the Applicant has no option than to bring this Applicant pursuant to Section 35 of the 1999 Constitution, Federal Republic of Nigeria seeking redress from the court against the Respondent.
Meanwhile, Justice Ekwo, Monday declined an application by Kyari, seeking his release from detention.
Kyari, through his lawyer, Cynthia Ikenna had moved an exparte motion, praying the court for an order releasing him from detention based on health grounds.
However, Justice Ekwo refused making an order for the release of Kyari, and instead directed the applicant to put the FG on notice.
An affidavit of urgency dated February 17, 2022 deposed to by one Muhammad Usman, who claimed to be a young brother to DCP Kyari, averred “That the Applicant is suffering from diabetes, high blood pressure and
severe heart disease that may cause death.
“That the Applicant was receiving medical treatment on daily basis due to seriousness of the illness, that since 12th of February, 2022, the Applicant has not accessed any medical treatment which is dangerous to his health.
“That failure of the Applicant to check his heart, high blood pressure will result in severe health problems or may even lead to heart failure and death.
“Medical report from the National hospital is hereby attached and marked as exhibit.
“That due to the Applicant being a diabetic patient and on medical diet, he does not eat outside his home and this is causing a very big hardship on Applicant that is in NDLEA Custody.
“That the health of the Applicant cannot be managed while in NDLEA Custody due to the seriousness of his illness.
“That in the interest of justice, that the Applicant be admitted to bail on health ground.
“That the Applicant will not jump bail if bail is granted to him.
“That he has a liable surety who is in court.
Having refused the application, the court adjouned to February 24, for hearing of the motion on notice seeking the release of Kyari from detention.
Konga set to dominate e-commerce in Africa – Forbes
.Forbes hails Konga as beautiful bride of African e-commerce
Konga, Nigeria’s leading omnichannel e-commerce group has been identified as a strong player on the verge of dominating the African e-commerce scene.
Forbes, a globally renowned media company, focusing on business, investing, technology, entrepreneurship, leadership, and lifestyle, revealed this in a special feature published in its Forbes Africa edition late last week.
In addition to hailing the remarkable growth trajectory that has seen Konga become the first African e-commerce player to hit profitability, Forbes equally referenced the various thriving subsidiaries that have transformed the Konga Group into a formidable, flourishing e-commerce ecosystem, while also highlighting the pivotal role of KongaPay, a Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)-licensed fintech platform as a leader in the Nigerian e-wallet space.
Following its 2018 acquisition by the Zinox Group and the tremendous growth it has recorded, Konga, Forbes noted, would potentially attract over a $2bn valuation when it eventually decides to go public, as widely envisaged.
‘‘While the brand eyes its listing on the stock market to fulfil its potential in the marketplace, there are reports that it boasts over $2 billion valuation, thanks to its new acquisition by Zinox.
‘‘Konga has continued to show promise in the online marketplace. After its acquisition, a review of the company’s performance shows the brand experienced over 800% growth. This surpasses expectations in e-commerce sectors across the continent. The new phase of Konga, driven by young, ambitious and innovative individuals, has seen it rake over $3oom in investments, according to reports.’
‘‘Efficient management of these investments has driven the brand to succeed in the e-commerce space, placing the brand on a profitable footing. The transformation has seen the brand recording significant progress in its online and offline transactions. Data shows that Konga fulfilled to the last mile 85% of all orders placed on its online and offline platform. The brand has also navigated and found a lasting solution
to issues with logistics, one of the great hindering factors with e-commerce in Africa,’’ the article read in part.
In a chat with Co-CEO, Konga Group, Prince Nnamdi Ekeh who is rounding off his MBA studies at Oxford, Forbes also beamed its focus on the future of e-commerce in Africa, with Prince Ekeh who heaped praises on his Co-CEO, Nick Imudia and the entire Management and staff of the Konga Group for their resilience and dedication, revealing that the future remains bright.
‘‘E-commerce in Africa is set to take off to unprecedented heights in the next decade and players who are well positioned will reap the fruits. Like I mentioned before, we have already seen triple-digit annual growth numbers and yet there is still so much market share left to capture as we transition people into
the e-commerce era.
‘‘I also believe blockchain and decentralized finance will play a great role in improving financial inclusion
in the continent which will give people more access to digital services like e-commerce. As economists, we were trained to look at indicators and so far, most critical indicators trend positively: Population, youth
population, mobile penetration growth rates, connectivity growth rates. If these indicators continue to improve, I have no doubt that Africa will house one of the biggest e-commerce players in the world, and my job is to make that Konga,’’ Prince Ekeh disclosed.
