An Oyo State High Court, on Tuesday, watched the videos tendered as exhibits in the N500 billion suit filed by Yoruba nation activist, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, against the Attorney General of the Federation(AGF), Abubakar Malami(SAN) and Department of States Services(DSS).
Recall that Sunday Igboho had dragged Malami and DSS to court, seeking a declaration that invasion of his Ibadan residence on July 1 by operatives of the secret police was unconstitutional and an infringement on his fundamental human rights. He is seeking N500 billion damages for the action.
At the hearing of the suit on Tuesday, Igboho’s counsel, Chief Yomi Alliyu (SAN), urged the court to watch two videos recorded in a pen drive which were tendered as Exhibit Oro 9A.
But Malami’s counsel, Abdullahi Abubakar, objected, arguing that only the judge should watch the video in his chamber.
However, the president judge, Justice Ladiran Akintola, declared that the court is an open place where everyone can see any evidence presented.
“Whatever everybody can’t see here in the open court, I can’t see in my chamber,” the judge held.
The videos were eventually played on a television set in the court. One showed the destruction of Igboho’s Ibadan residence with blood stains, shattered windows and vandalised vehicles, among others while the other video showed the Minister of Defence, Bashir Magashi, addressing the audience at a gathering to arm themselves.
Reacting to the videos, Abubakar argued that there is no material before the court to prove that Sunday Igboho owns the house or that blood stains were that of human beings.
He added that there is nothing in the videos linking Malami to the incidents, urging the court to disregard the exhibit and dismiss the suit in its enitrety.
Counsel to DSS, Mr. T. A. Nurudeen, while opposing the originating motion, tendered a CD containing two videos marked as exhibits DS1 and DS2.
In one of the videos, Igboho threatened to shoot dead any politician in Yoruba land who campaigns for a position in 2023,saying there would be no election in Yoruba land. He urged Yorubas not to deceive themselves,asking them to support Yoruba nation. He criticised the system which he claims is bringing down Yoruba culture and relegating monarchs in the region. He urged Yoruba youths to arm themselves with voodoo and ammunitions.He also warned security agennts against attacking him, saying they may not return as as they come
In the second video, Igboho was speaking at a press conference. He insisted that Fulani herdsmen were no longer desired in Yoruba land, stressing that Yoruba nation was the way forward. Both videos were recorded in Yoruba.
After the videos were watched, Nurudeen urged the court to dismiss the entire application and treat the matter on merit, emphasising that the state high court lacks jurisdiction to entertain the suit.
But Alliyu argued that the authorities cited by counsels to the defendants were in contrast to the case at hand.
He also brushed aside exhibits tendered by Nurudeen, describing it as a cinema. Alliyu said the language used in the video is not the language of the court.
Justice Akintola adjourned ruling and judgement in the suit till September 17. He also extended the order restraining the DSS and the AGF from arresting or harassing Igboho till September 17.
