TWO of the six Okuama community leaders arrested by military officials last month in Delta State’s Ughelli South Area have filed two fundamental rights suits against the Nigerian Army and the State Security Services in the Federal High Court in Warri, seeking $200 million.
James Oghorokor and Dennis Okugbaye, in separate suits brought by their attorneys Malcolm Omirhobo Esq, Akpokona Omafuaire Esq, and others, are challenging their arrest and subsequent imprisonment without being charged or granting their counsel access.
Prof Arthur Ekpekpo, Chief Belvis Adogbo, Mr James Oghoroko, Dennis Okugbaye, Pa Anthony Ahwemuria, and Mrs Rita Akata were arrested by military personnel between the 18th and 20th of August and are still in unknown confinement.
In Suit NO: FHC/WR/CS/84/2024 between James Oghorokor and the Nigerian Army and two others, the applicant is demanding N100m for his illegal arrest and detention without trial.
Similarly, in Suit NO: FHC/WR/CS/85/2024 between Dennis Okugbaye and the Nigerian Army and two others, the applicant is also demanding N100m for his illegal arrest and detention without trial.
In their Originating summons, the applicants in the separate suits are praying the court for a declaration that the invasion of their homes without due process of law is a flagrant violation of the Applicant’s fundamental rights to their private and the Apple and therefore illegal, unlawful, and unconstitutional.
They also prayed the court that their arrest without a warrant by the Respondents’ servants on August 19, 2024, their continued detention and denial of the Applicants’ access to their lawyer and family members, and their refusal to charge the Applicant in a court of law since August 19, 20204 to date are a flagrant violation of the Applicants’ fundamental rights to personal liberty and thus illegal, unlawful, and unconstitutional.
