Folio uncovers plot by Sen. Obiora, police to file further charge against Anosikes

…Fresh suit to scuttle N2bn fundamental rights suit by Daily Times owners over illegal detention
Strong indications have emerged that Police hierarchy have finalised plans with a former lawmaker, Senator Ikechukwu Obiora, to scuttle the N2billion fundamental human rights enforcement suit filed against them by the management of Folio Communications Plc, owners of Daily Times of Nigeria.

According to reliable sources inside Police Force Headquarters, Obiora has been visiting Louis Edet House where he has held several meetings with top police officers on how to handle and possibly scuttle the N2billion suit instituted against them by the Anosikes which comes up for hearing next week Monday.

One of our sources, an official of the Force Headquarters, who pleaded not to be mentioned because of the consequences on his job, told Daily Times that a plot has been concluded to bring fresh criminal charges against Folio Communications, Fidelis Anosike and Noel Anosike and that unless something happens, a charge to that effect may be instituted any time this week.

The source said, “The Police hierarchy and Ikechukwu Obiorah have been meeting everyday since Monday last week because of the N2billion Fundamental Rights suits against illegal detention and abuse of their rights.

As I speak with you, they have perfected plans to bring up fresh criminal charges against Folio Communications and its owners.”

When reminded that the Court of Appeal had earlier ruled that the case involving Obiora and Folio Communications is civil and not criminal, the source said the Police hierarchy was legally briefed on that

but decided that the only way to handle the coming fundamental rights challenge was to institute a criminal charge so that the Anosikes can be arrested and put away before next week Monday when the case is slated to commence.

On why Festus Keyamo was involved in the case, the source said it was deliberate because of the new position the Senior Advocate holds in President Buhari’s government.

“You know that Keyamo is the new kid on the block in Buhari’s administration. Their thinking is that once Keyamo is involved, the presidency would be seen to be interested in the case, thereby scaring the judges handling the matter.

And you know Keyamo with his sensation and drama. I think something sinister is in the offing,” the source concluded.

It would be recalled that the Nigerian Police had at the instance of Sen. Ikechukwu Obiorah in January this year invaded the Abuja office of Folio Communications Limited where they arrested and detained top management Officers of the company and went away with files and vital documents.

The Anosikes were subsequently detained for many days at the Kuje Prison while an Abuja High Court later granted them bail just as the Anosikes sued the Police and Obiora.

Following petitions they wrote to several agencies of government including President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, National Judicial Commission among many others, the Inspector General of Police directed that all criminal charges pending against them be dropped which was complied with by the Police.

However, the Anosikes and their company, Folio Communications Limited, now Folio Communications Plc went to court seeking redress over the seven days they were illegally detained by the police as well as the damages caused to their businesses by that breach of their fundamental human rights which comes up Monday next week.

The latest decision of the Police to bring up fresh criminal charges against the Anosike’s as we were reliably informed, would amount to complete abuse of judicial process and disregard to the rule of law since the Court of Appeal has ruled that the conflict between Folio Communications and Ikechukwu Obiorah is civil as it bothers on ownership of the media organisation and therefore has nothing to do with criminality. Obiorah is yet to challenge the Court of Appeal ruling.

Only two weeks ago, an Abuja Magistrate’s Court struck out another case instituted by Ikechukwu Obiora seeking to stop the publication of Daily Times by Folio Communications Plc thereby reaffirming ownership of the company by the Anosike brothers.