Tension erupted at the Ondo State High Court on Wednesday after operatives of the Nigeria Police Force Special Weapons and Tactics Unit from Lagos allegedly stormed the court premises to arrest a 34-year-old bricklayer, Ojo Ajisafe, over a matter already pending before the court.
Ajisafe had appeared before the court for hearing in a case of attempted murder connected to a protracted land dispute in Ondo East Local Government Area.
During the court session, the police operatives reportedly arrived at the court complex and took Ajisafe into custody while proceedings were ongoing.
Eyewitnesses said the officers initially appeared in plain clothes, which caused panic among people within the court premises who feared they might be kidnappers.
The situation later became clearer when it was discovered that the men were operatives of the police SWAT unit from the Lagos State Command.
Ajisafe’s counsel, Femi Akinbinu, subsequently informed the presiding judge about the development, describing the action as an invasion of the court premises by security operatives while the case involving his client was still being heard.
Sources at the court said the judge expressed surprise over the development but could not immediately prevent the arrest.
It was further gathered that the arrest followed a petition reportedly submitted to the SWAT unit of the Lagos Command concerning a murder allegation.
However, individuals familiar with the matter stated that the same allegation was already the subject of proceedings before the Ondo State High Court.
