Arrested Okuama leaders drag Army, DSS to court, demand N200m damages
CHIGOZIE AMADI
Two of the six leaders of the Okuama community in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State reportedly arrested by military officials last month have dragged the Nigerian Army and the State Security Services before the Federal High Court, Warri, demanding N200million as damages in two fundamental rights suits.
The claimants, James Oghorokor and Dennis Okugbaye in their separate suits filed by their counsel, Malcolm Omirhobo, Akpokona Omafuaire, and others, are challenging their arrest and subsequent detention without charging them to court or allowing their counsel access.
It was gathered that 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 to 20, 2024, and have remained in unknown detentions since.
In Suit No: FHC/WR/CS/84/2024 between James Oghorokor and the Nigerian Army and two others, the applicant is demanding N100 million for his illegal arrest and detention without trial.
Also, in Suit No: FHC/WR/CS/85/2024 between Dennis Okugbaye and the Nigerian Army and two others, the applicant is demanding N100 million for his illegal arrest and detention without trial.
The applicants, in their originating summons in separate suits, are praying to the court for a declaration that the invasion of their homes without due process of law is a flagrant violation of the applicants’ fundamental rights to his private life and therefore illegal, unlawful, and unconstitutional.
They also prayed the court that their arrest by the servants of the respondents on 19/8/2024 without a warrant, their continued detention and denial of the applicants’ access to their lawyer and family members, and their refusal to charge the applicants to a court of law since 19/8/2024 to date is a flagrant violation of the applicants’ fundamental rights to personal liberty and therefore illegal, unlawful and unconstitutional.
They further prayed to the court that their continued detention of the applicants since 19/8/2025 to date and thereby restraining their movement without the backing of law is a violation of the applicants’ fundamental rights to their freedom of movement and therefore illegal, unlawful and unconstitutional.
The applicants prayed to the court for the enforcement of their fundamental rights to their personal liberty, right to private and family life, right to the dignity of their human person, and right to freedom of movement against the respondents.
The applicants plead with the court to compel the respondents to forthwith unconditionally release of the applicants from detention.
They asked the court for a perpetual injunction restraining the respondents, their servants, agents, and/or privies from further acts of violating their fundamental human rights.
They requested the sum of N100,000,000.00 (One Hundred Million Naira) damages each against the respondents for their fundamental rights to personal liberty, privacy, the dignity of their human person, and rights to freedom of movement by the respondents.
