Baba Suwe Contests Appeal Court's Judgment in Supreme Court

Mr Babatunde Omidina, a.k.a. Baba Suwe, has appealed the judgement of the Court of Appeal, Lagos Division, which set aside the judgement of Justice Yetunde Idowu of Ikeja High Court, which awarded N25 million compensation to the comic actor after he was detained several days by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) which suspected him of carrying narcotic substances in 2011.

The appellate court, in its judgment delivered by Justice Rita Pemu described the ₦25 million compensation as baseless and pervasive, and held that the lower court lacked the jurisdiction to preside over the fundamental human rights suit filed by Baba Suwe’s lawyer, Bamidele Aturu, in October 24, 2011.

Justice Pemu said it was only the Federal High Court that had the right to adjudicate the matter, especially as it is a drug-related matter, adding that the NDLEA had the prerogative to keep the respondent in custody while investigation was being carried out.

Dissatisfied with the decision of the Court of Appeal, Baba Suwe has appealed to the Supreme Court, asking it to set aside the decision of the Court of Appeal and affirm the decision of the trial court.

No date has been fixed for hearing of the appeal.