According to police sources, five the suspects had come from outside the
state and were believed to be supporters of the online publisher. There
was pandemonium as the group confronted loyalists of Saraki who had also
gathered to witness the court session.
In the process, a middle-aged woman was stripped while passersby ran
helter-skelter before the police came to rescue the situation.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Ajayi Okasanmi, confirming
the incident, said investigation was on to uncover the true identify of those
arrested.
He said the command had envisaged the possibility of trouble at the
resumed hearing, hence the decision to reinforce its normal presence at the
court premises.
Okasanmi added: “We went there to maintain the peace as usual, but later
there was rancor. We had to deploy more men and in the process, we arrested
some people. As at the last time I checked, we have five persons in our custody.”
He said that one of those arrested claimed to be a journalist, but was
yet to give proper identification of his status and medium.
However, report by the online medium indicated that one of those
arrested was Juwon Sanyaolu, an alleged activist.
Earlier, the court had directed the appellant, represented by Stanley
Ihmaruo from the chambers of Femi Falana (SAN), to file an address of service
within the jurisdiction of the court to enable the respondent deliver its
responses.
The case was later adjourned to October 26, 2017, for hearing of the
application by the appellant.
The state high court had awarded N4billion against the online medium for
accusing the Senate president of misdeeds that were not substantiated.
The defendants, the court had been told, had refused to defend the case
despite summons being served. The defendant later approached the court asking
that the judgment be set aside, insisting he was not served.
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