In the face of the dead silence by the Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori over the plights, unabated intimidation, harassment and continuous detention of innocent Indigenes of Okuama in Ughelli south local government area of the State, by the Nigerian army two out of the six arrested leaders of the community, have sued the Nigerian Army and the Department of State Security (DSS) for N200 million in damages.
The lawsuit, filed at the Federal High Court in Warri, seeks redress for the violation of their fundamental rights.
The six Okuama indigenes—Prof. Arthur Ekpekpo, Chief Belvis Adogbo, Mr. James Oghoroko, Dennis Okugbaye, Pa Anthony Ahwemuria, and Mrs. Rita Akata—were arrested by military officials between August 18 and 20 and have since been held in undisclosed detention camps.
Two of the detainees, James Oghorokor and Dennis Okugbaye, have filed separate suits through their counsels, Malcolm Omirhobo Esq., Akpokona Omafuaire Esq., and others.
They are challenging their arrest and subsequent detention without being charged in court or given access to legal counsel.
In Suit No: FHC/WR/CS/84/2024, filed by James Oghorokor against the Nigerian Army and two others, the applicant is demanding N100 million for his illegal arrest and detention without trial.
Similarly, in Suit No: FHC/WR/CS/85/2024, filed by Dennis Okugbaye against the Nigerian Army and two others, the applicant is also demanding N100 million for his unlawful arrest and detention without trial.
In their Originating Summons, the applicants, in their separate suits, are requesting the court to declare that the invasion of their homes without due process was a flagrant violation of their fundamental rights to privacy, making it illegal, unlawful, and unconstitutional.
They also asked the court to declare that their arrest on August 19, 2024, by agents of the respondents without a warrant, their continued detention, denial of access to their lawyers and family members, and the failure to charge them to court are violations of their fundamental rights to personal liberty, and therefore, illegal, unlawful, and unconstitutional.
Furthermore, the applicants argue that their continued detention since August 19, 2024, restricting their movement without legal justification, is a violation of their fundamental rights to freedom of movement, rendering it illegal, unlawful, and unconstitutional.
The applicants are seeking the court’s enforcement of their fundamental rights to personal liberty, privacy, the dignity of their human person, and freedom of movement against the respondents.
They are also requesting the court to compel the respondents to unconditionally release them from detention immediately.
Additionally, they are asking the court for a perpetual injunction restraining the respondents, their servants, agents, and/or privies from further violating their fundamental human rights.
Lastly, the applicants seek N100 million in damages each against the respondents for violating their fundamental rights to personal liberty, privacy, the dignity of their human person, and freedom of movement.
Credit: Nigerian Tribune except headline
