By Samuel Ogude (Warri)
A 27 – year- old man, Emmanuel Sanwo Olu who claimed he is the son of the Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has dragged him to High Court 2 sitting in Effurun in Uvwie Local Government Area Delta State for failure to recognize him(Emmanuel) as a son claiming, he(Babajide) gave birth to him and he(Babajide) has abandoned him for the past 27 years.
Speaking to newsmen in the court premises in Effurun, Emmanuel Sanwo-Olu said he wants to see the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu saying, his mother told him that the Governor is his father. According to Emmanuel who said, his mother hails from Oleri Community in Udu Local Government Area of the state, said, he is very sure Babajide Sanwo-Olu gave birth to him through the mother before she (mother) married another man to have other children.
He said:” I am the only boy my mother gave birth to, for my father before she had other children to another man”. Speaking further, Emmanuel Sanwo-Olu said, for the past twenty seven years, he has not been taking care of him as he engaged in menial jobs to take care of himself and his three children.
In an interview with newsmen, the Counsel to the claimant, Mr. John Aikpokpo-Martins Esq, said, the case of Emmanuel Sanwo-Olu who is his client is a case against the Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu as defendant. He said the case came hearing for the day adding, the lawyers to Sanwo-Olu, Templas Law Firm had earlier filled a motion to strike out the case on the ground that the Governor was not ready to wave his immunity just as he (Martins) filled a counter application seeking an order for the Governor to wave his immunity and come forward for DNA test to ascertain the true state of affairs. The legal practitioner said, the court is expecting the Governor to come forward for the test since the 27 years man is sure he is father.
He said:”We are expecting that he will do that (come forward for the test) if indeed he is sure he is not the father of my client”. Martins Esq. however said, the Lagos State Governor invoked his immunity saying, he is immured against law suit adding, he is not ready to wave it, which to according to Martins, necessitated them to bring the application that court should strike out the matter that, it should not be heard.
Aikpokpo Martins said, they too, are not ready hence they pleaded with the other side to give them time to see if the matter can be resolved saying, the Governor should wave his immunity and come for DNA test, if he so sure that he is not the father of the boy. The legal practitioner said, it is important to actually know the true man who gave birth to the boy. Against this background, Martins urged the Lagos State Governor Mr. Sanwo-Olu to validate the paternity of his client adding, there is nothing to it than that, adding, failure for the Governor to do the test is tantamount to hiding from knowing the truth. Aikpokpo Martins however said, from now till the next adjournment which is January 17th , he wants to see, based on morally, the Governor’s conscience can appeal to him and bring himself forward for DNA test with Emmanuel otherwise, he(Emmanuel) has to wait for the next four years or more than, when the Lagos State Governor will have left office. He said:” The only legal option left is to wait for four years or more when he will leave office”.
By Samuel Ogude (Warri)