A Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday ordered Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello to pay the sum of N500 million to the governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Murtala Ajaka, for violating his fundamental rights.

In his decision, Justice Inyang Ekwo also ordered Bello to publicly apologize to Ajaka “for the gross and unwarranted violation” of his rights.

Justice Ekwo equally issued an order requiring the security agencies and their heads to ensure Ajaka’s safety.

The judge further made “an order of injunction, restraining the security agencies from arresting/abducting, detaining and/or further harassing, intimidating, shooting/threatening the applicant’s life and properties”.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Ajaka sought judicial protection against Bello in an originating motion marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/952/2023, filed on July 11 by his lawyer, S.E. Aruwa, SAN.

The Nigeria Police Force, the Inspector General of Police, Kogi State Commissioner of Police, the Department of State Service (DSS), and the Director General of the DSS were joined in the suit as respondents.

Other respondents are the Director of the DSS Command in Kogi, the Commandant-General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the Chief of Defence Staff, the Chief of Army Staff, and the Chief of Naval Staff.