NUJ Crisis: You Can't Run Away From Case Liabilities, As Court Slams Costs Against Ewuoso, One Other

The Federal High court sitting in Abeokuta has struck out the Fundamental Human right suit filed by Mr. Ayokunle Ewuosho and Mr. Sina Oduntan against the Ogun state commissioner of Police and Mrs. Oluremi Olugbenro to challenge their arrest over the assault on female journalists at Iwe Iroyin in February this year in suit number FHC/AB/FHR/33/22 and FHC/AB/FHR/34/21.

The presiding Judge, Justice Remi Oguntoyinbo while ruling on the matter awarded the cost of forty thousand naira against each of the applicants as cost for bringing the second respondent, Mrs. Olugbenro to court.

The counsel to the first and second applicants, Mr. Ayokunle Ewuosho and Mr. Sina Oduntan, Mr. Deji Eniiseyin who was conspicuously absent in court having been served with counter affidavit had filed an application to discontinue the case stating that the matter has been settled amicably.

The counsel to the Mrs. Oluremi Olugbenro, Mr. Gani Ogunsanwo while reacting to the assertion that the matter had been settled informed the court that he was not aware of any settlement and asked the court to award costs against each of the applicant if the court was inclined to grant the application for withdrawal.

He then pleaded for the judge to award fifty thousand naira as cost against each of the applicants for bringing his client to the court.

The counsel to the Ogun State Commissioner of Police, had also informed the court that he was misled that the applicants had filed applications to discontinue the suit.

Justice Oguntoyinbo in her ruling on the matter, agreed that the applicants has the right to discontinue with the matter, but pointed out that they can not run away from its liabilities.

He then stated that the second respondent, (Mrs. Remi Olugbenro) having filed the necessary counter affidavits before the court has joined issues in law and was entitled to cost.

She then awarded the cost of forty thousand naira against Mr. Ayokunle Ewuosho, the first applicant and the sum of forty thousand naira against Mr. Sina Oduntan, the second applicant.