Justice Abdulazeez Anka of the Federal High Court in Lagos has withdrawn from the fundamental human right case filed by suspected kidnapper Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, also known as Evans.

According to the judge, the case file would be returned to the Administrative Judge for further directive. The judge had earlier heard the case during the court’s long vacation and had adjourned until Aug. 29 for judgment after parties argued it and adopted their addresses on Aug.16.

But the police through its counsel David Igbodo said another lawyer, Henry Obiazi, who represented the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) and the Nigeria Police when the case was heard did so without authorisation.

The police prayed the court to set aside all the purported arguments made by Obiazi and to set aside the ruling it delivered on Aug. 16 in which he adjourned for judgment.

When the case came up before another judge, Justice Chuka Obiozor during the long vacation, he held that the case was no longer urgent.

Obiozor then returned the file to the Chief Judge, Justice Adamu Kafarati, for re-assignment to another judge.

The case was subsequently re-assigned to Justice Babs Kuewemi.

In his fundamental rights suit, Evans is claiming N300 million against the police as damages for alleged illegal detention and rights violation.