* …Actor Demands 100 Million Naira Compensation
An Ikeja High Court in Lagos on Wednesday ordered the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to produce Nollywood star, Babatunde Omidina, aka `Baba Suwe,’ physically in court on Nov. 1.
The presiding Judge, Justice Yetunde Idowu gave the order while ruling on an ex parte motion filed by the actor’s lawyer, Mr Bamidele Aturu.
Idowu gave the order after hearing the submissions and arguments of Aturu and the NDLEA lawyer, Mr Femi Oloruntoba.
The judge said: “Having listened to the submission and argument of the applicant’s counsel and those of the respondent, the respondent (NDLEA) is accordingly ordered to produce the applicant, Babatunde Omidina, physically in court on Nov. 1 at 9:0 a.m”.
The application, dated Oct. 26, 2011 had prayed the court for an order directing the NDLEA to produce Omidina in court at the next adjourned date.
Aturu had also asked the court to order the NDLEA to show cause why the actor should not be released unconditionally from detention.
He claimed that Baba Suwe’s detention by the anti-drug agency since Oct. 12 without trial was a violation of his constitutional right to liberty.
According to him, the action contravened Section 35 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended.
The application, which was supported by a nine-paragraph affidavit deposed to by Baba Suwe’s first son, Adesola Omidina, claimed that the actor was diabetic.
It further claimed that he had not been granted access to his doctor since the arrest and that he had defecated eight times under close observation, without excreting any banned substance.
Oloruntoba had advised the court to provide adequate security to contain the crowd that may besiege the court premises during the next adjournment if the request is granted.
In the substantive suit, number: ID/745/M, filed before the same court, the actor is asking for N100 million as compensation for damages suffered by him as a result of the arrest and detention.
NAN recalls that Baba Suwe was arrested on Oct. 12 at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja on the suspicion that he ingested substances suspected to be illicit drugs.
Justice Okechukwu Okeke of the Federal High Court in Lagos had on Oct. 21 granted the NDLEA the permission to keep him in their custody for further investigation till Nov. 4.