A Federal High Court sitting in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, has restrained the Osun Security Network, popularly known as Amotekun Corps, from participating in Saturday’s gubernatorial election.
The court order also mandated the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to make use of the Amotekun Corps as part of the personnel to be deployed to provide security in the election.
The court presided over by Justice Ayo Emmanuel while ruling on a suit filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), ordered Amotekun not to serve as either security personnel or volunteer in the guber election.
Part of the order reads, “That the 1st defendant (INEC) is hereby restrained from requesting the deployment of the second defendant (Amotekun) as part of the security personnel deployable for the purpose of Osun 2022 governorship election pending the determination of the originating summons filed in the suit,” he said.
“With this order, it is forbidden for the INEC to make use of Amotekun as part of the security personnel to be drafted for the election.”
The judge noted that INEC, the police and other relevant agencies have been served with the court order.
The suit was adjourned to July 20.
Nurudeen Akewushola is an investigative reporter and fact-checker with The ICIR. He believes courageous in-depth investigative reporting is the key to social justice, accountability and good governance in society. You can reach him via [email protected] and @NurudeenAkewus1 on Twitter.