Appeal Court orders NDLEA not to pay Baba Suwe N25m

The Court of Appeal in Lagos, has overturned the ruling of a high court and quashed the N25million damages awarded to Nollywood actor, Babatunde Omidina, more popular as Baba Suwe.

The appellate court, in its judgment read by Justice Rita Pemu, held that the NDLEA has the right to keep the respondent in custody while investigation was being carried out.

Justice Pemu also declared that the Lagos High Court lacked the jurisdiction to entertain, in the first place, the fundamental human rights suit filed by Lagos lawyer and rights activist, Bamidele Aturu, on behalf of the comedian. She added that it was only the Federal High Court that had the right to adjudicate on the matter, being a drug-related case.

She then held that the award of the damage sum by the trial judge was “excessive, unrealistic and perverse.”

Justice Pemu said, “The constitution stipulates the right to personal liberty. The result of the CT Scan carried out on the respondent was in consonance with the appellant’s suspicion.