A Rivers State-based human rights activist, Onengiya Erekosima has dragged the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi earlier than a Federal Excessive Court docket in Abuja over the alleged use of safety operatives to harass and intimidate him.
The Minister is being sued alongside the Inspector Common of Police, IGP, as the first and 2nd defendants respectively.
They’re being accused of threatening his life and unjustly violating his basic human rights.
Erekosima who’s the Founder and President of the Basis for Peace and Non-violence in Nigeria is demanding the sum of N200 million collectively and severally in opposition to Amaechi and the Inspector Common of Police as damages and compensation for the breach of his basic rights enshrined beneath Chapter IV of the Structure of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (As Amended).
Within the swimsuit, filed by Samuel Nwosu on his behalf, the activist requested the courtroom to compel Amaechi and the IGP to pay him N200 million as compensation for the harassment and intimidation he suffered within the arms of the defendants unjustly through the years.
The activist additionally prayed for a declaration that Amaechi’s declaration, description and tagging him as a “Terrorist” with out recourse to any due means of regulation infringed upon his basic rights to life, private liberty, the dignity of his human particular person, freedom of motion, freedom from discrimination and proper to non-public and household life.
“A declaration that Amaechi whereas out and in of workplace because the Government Governor of Rivers State, instigated the arrest, molestation, harassment and intimidation of him in breach and/or risk of breach of his assured rights of sections 34, 35 and 41 of the Structure of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (As Amended).
Amongst different reliefs, the applicant is searching for an order of injunction restraining the respondents, their servants, brokers, officers and males from additional harassing, molesting, intimidating and threatening him in any method, howsoever, that’s prone to breach or threaten the breach of his basic rights beneath Chapter IV of the 1999 Structure.
Within the courtroom course of, Erekosima in an affidavit averred that he used his NGO to dealer peace and reconciliation between the then warring camps of Niger Delta Militants, a hit which he claimed “vexed and displeased” the then Governor Amaechi.
He additional claimed that he had overtly confronted the first Respondent (Amaechi) earlier than the Reality and Reconciliation Committee arrange by the River State Authorities on account of the cache of arms and ammunition planted at Okochiri Okirika, River State to implicate one Ateke Tom throughout a go to of the then President of the Senate, David Mark.
“That the first respondent had in response declared, described, tagged, labelled and categorized him as a terrorist and referred to as upon the 2nd Respondent and his males to arrest the Applicant.
“The respondents via false arrests trumped up expenses, intimidation and threats triggered him to flee from Port Harcourt to Abuja.
Erekosima within the affidavit additional claimed that the Respondents on changing into conscious that he relocated to Abuja, engaged officers of the defunct Particular Armed Theft Squad SARS, to analysis, arrest and silence him, inflicting him to enter hiding.
That he lives regularly in worry and apprehension of imminent hazard to his life on account of the Respondents persevering with threats and harassments.
The activist additionally averred that he has complained to the Legal professional Common of the Federation and the Nationwide Human Rights Fee with none significant consequence or motion taken by these authorities.
When the matter got here up on Monday, the applicant’s counsel, Samuel Nwosu stated the basic rights enforcement swimsuit was ripe for listening to, having been served on the respondents.
Nevertheless, Amaechi’s lawyer, Bolaji Oyun pleaded with the courtroom for time to place his home so as and to regularize his counter-affidavit.
Knowledge Madaki who stood for the Inspector Common of Police knowledgeable the courtroom that he was able to undertake his preliminary objection to the swimsuit.
Consequently, the trial choose, Justice Binta Nyako granted the request for adjustment and glued March 9, for listening to. NAIJATABLOID
Add Comment