According to the petition, the applicants—serving officers of the Amotekun Corps—were allegedly declared wanted shortly after demanding their appointment letters and other ancillary entitlements.
Human rights lawyer, Tope Temokun, has petitioned the Chief Judge of Ondo State over the worrisome delays in assigning hearing dates to three fundamental rights suits filed on behalf of his clients — officers who say they were unlawfully declared wanted by the commander of the Ondo State Security Network Agency.
In a letter dated December 5, 2025, and addressed to the Honourable Chief Judge through the Chief Registrar of the Ondo State High Court, Temokun said the three cases — each filed on November 11, 2025 — are yet to be listed for hearing despite affidavits of urgency attached to all applications.
The suits are: Abu Taiwo v. Chief Adetunji Adeleye & Ondo State Security Network Agency (HCAK/478/CIV/2025), Akinsipe Victor v. Chief Adetunji Adeleye & Ondo State Security Network Agency (HCAK/475/CIV/2025), Ekujimi Julius v. Chief Adetunji Adeleye & Ondo State Security Network Agency (HCAK/479/CIV/2025).
According to the petition, the applicants—serving officers of the Amotekun Corps—were allegedly declared wanted shortly after demanding their appointment letters and other ancillary entitlements.
Temokun stated that since the declaration, the officers have gone into hiding, fearing for their lives and liberties.
Citing provisions of the Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules (FREP), especially the Preamble and Order IV Rule 1, the lawyer argued that rights enforcement matters are to be treated with utmost urgency, stressing that any delay risks defeating the purpose of approaching the court for protection.
The statement read, "These actions were commenced under the Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules. By the combined effect of the Preamble to the Rules, and Order IV Rule 1, actions seeking enforcement of fundamental rights are to be treated with urgency and, where possible, determined expeditiously.
"Affidavits of urgency were duly filed in all three suits, each demonstrating the continuing and immediate harm alleged by the Applicants, who are officers of Ondo State Security Network Agency (Amotekun Corps) and were unlawfully declared wanted by the Commander of the agency after submitting demand for appointment letters and other ancillary issues and ever since have been in hiding for fear of their lives and liberties.
"In view of the sensitive nature of these claims and the constitutional protections they seek to enforce, we humbly appeal for the kind intervention of the Honourable Chief Judge in ensuring that the matters are promptly assigned hearing dates. This will not only align with the spirit and intendment of the FREP Rules but also ensure that the Applicants’ recourse to judicial protection is not rendered illusory by delay.
"We remain confident in the commitment of the Ondo State Judiciary to the speedy and fair administration of justice and respectfully urge that these matters receive the attention they require," Temokun added.
Weeks ago, SaharaReporters reported that residents of Akure, Ondo State, took to the streets in a peaceful march led by former presidential candidate and human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore, to demand justice for the victimised officers of the Ondo State Security Network Agency, popularly known as Amotekun.
The demonstrators, carrying placards with various inscriptions, had called for the immediate reinstatement of the suspended officers and the reversal of their alleged wrongful declaration as wanted persons.
Sowore had urged the government and the Ondo State Amotekun Command to immediately resolve the matter, fully document all personnel, and issue appointment letters to ensure transparency and fairness within the corps.
The protesters had demanded the immediate lifting of the suspension of the three officers and a public reversal of their wanted status, insisting that justice must prevail.
"We therefore call for the immediate lifting of the suspension of the three courageous officers; and the reversal of their wrongful declaration as wanted persons," Sowore added.
SaharaReporters reported that the wife of an Amotekun officer, whose husband had been missing since gunmen allegedly sent by the Corps Commander, Akogun Adetunji Adeleye, attacked their home, staged a solo protest demanding his release and safety.
According to reports, the gunmen fired several shots during the night raid, forcing her husband identified as Abu Taiwo to flee for his life.
He narrowly escaped but he has not been seen since the incident.
Tope Temokun, esq., counsel to the aggrieved Amotekun officers, in a statement obtained by SaharaReporters on Tuesday, had said the situation within the Ondo State Security Network Agency (Amotekun Corps) had escalated from mere intimidation to an outright attempt at elimination.
Temokun explained that three officers — Akinsipe Victor Temitope, Ekujumi Julius, and Abu Taiwo — are currently in hiding following credible reports that gunmen allegedly sent Adeleye, had been hunting them around town.