By Daniel Dauda, Jos



A High court sitting in Jos, Plateau State capital have on Tuesday dismissed the application sought by Dr. Obadiah Mailafiya seeking to restrain the Nigeria Police Force from further investigation on an interview he granted to a private radio station in Lagos.

The embattled former Deputy Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria ,CBN, Dr.Mailafiya earlier approached the court seeking an interim injunction to restrain the Nigeria Police from further embarking on investigation which the DSS are also doing the same job as double jeopardy which was contain in paragraph 26 of affidavit disposed by his counsel, Barr Yakubu Bawa.

In his ruling, the presiding judge, justice Arum Ashom said the police and the DSS have overlapping functions to complement each other, so the invitation extended to Dr.Obadiah Mailafiya was not out of place, and neither was it an infringement on his right as a person.

He said application on motion on notice rule 7 procedure of the Court 1999 amended in paragraph 6,7,9& 15, which border on peoples right and the right of plaintiff seeking relief before this court that the DSS is the only statutory security outfit to thoroughly investigate act of internal security, is not true.

He said; “You would recall that the office of deputy Inspector General of Police , Force Headquarters had sent a letter of invitation to Dr.Obadiah Mailafiya through the Director General, NIPPS , for another investigation on the same matter bordering on killing of innocent Nigerian and infringement on their fundamental right"

According to the ruling, the former Banker, Dr. Mailafiya granted interview to a Lagos base radio station which was aired, and the information went viral both local and international, prompting the security agencies to invite him for further questioning.

Speaking to the plaintiff counsel, Yakubu Bawa Esq on the ruling, he said though the court had thrown out the application sought by Dr. Obadiah Mailafiya to stop the police and other security agencies to infringe his right.

He explained that as the plaintiff counsel, they are going to study the judgment and see whether his client can file for an appeal .

He said: “ Unfortunately for us the application was rejected. We will look at it and take necessary steps forward."

The counsel to the 1st ,2nd and 3rd defendants ,Barr Michael Oladipo who stood in for Barr. Fagbemi Esq commended the court ruling.

“The court was clear that the police have the right to investigate the matter bordering on security in the country,” Barr. Oladipo stated.

You would recall, Dr. Obadiah Mailafiya has already honored invitation by the Department of State Security service, DSS,in Jos for three occasions.