By GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

BENIN—THE Court of Appeal sitting in Benin, Edo State, has ordered the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, and the Attorney-General of Federation, Mr. Mohammed Adoke, to pay N5 million damages, awarded against them by an Edo State High Court, into an interest-yielding account, pending its judgment on the suit by Rev. David Ugolor.

Ugolor, Executive Director of Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice, ANEEJ, is contesting his arrest and detention over the killing of Mr. Olaitan Oyerinde, late Principal Private Secretary to Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State.

In its ruling, the presiding judge, Justice Helen Ogunwumiju, ordered Abubakar and Adoke to pay the money to the Deputy Chief Registrar of the appellate court, who would then pay same into an interest-yielding account.

However, counsel to Abubakar, Adoke and Nigeria Police Force had earlier sought a stay of execution of the decision of the lower court, which had earlier ordered that the money should be paid into an interest-yielding account.

But counsel to Ugolor, faulted the application and described same as a legal virus, arguing that the N5 million has to be paid into an interest-yielding account first, pending the appeal court judgment.

The court held that the money be paid into said account within 60 days.

The IG and AGF, however, agreed to the payment of the money just as parties agreed on stay of execution pending the appeal court judgment.