A Federal High Court in Abuja orders the Attorney-General of the Federation, the Inspector-General of Police and the Nigeria Police Force to grant Adeniyi Adeyemi unimpeded access to lawyers of his choice while he remains in custody. Justice Obiora Egwuatu makes the order during proceedings on a fundamental rights enforcement application.
Adeyemi is linked to an alleged fake “Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council” (PFIPC). In his ex parte application filed through his lawyer, M.B. Abdulazeez, he seeks several forms of relief, including bail, release from detention and medical treatment by health practitioners of his choice, as well as restrictions on interrogations without a lawyer of his choice present. The judge grants the legal-access relief but declines the other requests at the ex parte stage, saying the respondents should first be heard.
After the initial ruling, the court gives the AGF and police 72 hours to show cause why the remaining reliefs should not be granted. The matter is adjourned for September 9. All outlets report that the focus of the immediate order is access to counsel, not bail or release at this stage.
