Ekweremadu: Court directs NIMC to release Ukpo’s identity to UK

By Olalekan Awojodu

Justice Inyang Edem Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday ordered the National Identification Management Commission NIMC to immediately release bio-data of David Ukpo to the Attorney General of the Federation AGF for onward transmission to the United Kingdom Court.

The court issued the order following a request to that by the Commission and in response to the request of the detained former Deputy President of the Nigerian Senate, Ike Ekweremadu to defend himself in a London court.

Although the court had on July 1 issued an order that the four respondents sued by Ekweremadu release details of David Ukpo to him and his detained wife, Beatrice, NIMC did not obey the order.

At Wednesday proceedings, NIMC represented by Mr Muazu Mohammed informed Justice Ekwo that his client could not obey the order of the Court because it was not served with hearing notice before the order was issued against it.

Mohammed who earlier asked for revocation of the order later amended his motion on notice.

In place of revocation of the order, the counsel requested that his client be directed to submit information on David Ukpo to the AGF instead of Ekweremadu for onward transmission to the United Kingdom Court detaining the Nigerian Senator.

The request was not opposed by Chief Adegboyega Awomolo SAN who stood for Ekweremadu.

The trial Judge, Ekwo subsequently granted the request and ordered NIMC to submit it to the AGF for onward transmission to London Court.