Okuama: Courtroom adjourns N2bn swimsuit towards Nigerian Military until November

A Federal Excessive Courtroom in Abuja on Thursday adjourned a N2 billion elementary rights enforcement swimsuit filed by a former Caretaker Chairman, Southern Ijaw Native Authorities of Bayelsa, Mr Fortunate Okodeh, till November 28.

Justice Binta Nyako adjourned the case following an oral software by Okodeh’s counsel, Asmau Yunusa, to allow her to reply to a counter affidavit filed by Mimi Ayua, lawyer to the Chief of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa.

The Information Company of Nigeria reviews that Okodeh, within the swimsuit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/590/2024 dated and filed on Might 3 by Mr Femi Falana, SAN, had sued the CDS Musa and Chief of Army Staff (CAS) Taoreed Lagbaja, as 1st and 2nd respondents.

The applicant is accusing the defendants of allegedly publishing his {photograph} amongst these wished in connection to the killing of 17 troopers in Okuama in Delta State.

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He, due to this fact, prayed the courtroom to award N2 billion in damages towards the respondents for the alleged violation of his rights to private liberty and dignity.

The applicant additionally prayed the courtroom to put aside his declaration and award the high quality as compensation for damages suffered over the motion of the Defence Headquarters Abuja.

Upon resumed listening to on Thursday, Yunusa:, who appeared for the applicant, advised the courtroom that the matter was slated for point out.

She stated she was in receipt of a counter affidavit by the first respondent (CDS) on Wednesday and that she would wish little time to reply.

She stated the 2nd respondent (Lagbaja) was not represented in courtroom.

Justice Nyako, nonetheless, advised the lawyer who represented the CDS, Mimi Ayua, and Yunusa that the problem is what the events can sit down collectively to resolve amicably.

In response to the decide, it’s not what we must always waste the taxpayers’ cash on.

Justice Nyako then adjourned the matter till Nov. 28 for additional point out.
She ordered that the 2nd respondent be served with the listening to discover.

Within the affidavit in help of the swimsuit, Okodeh averred that the motion of the defendants had affected his political profession and made him go into hiding.

It is going to be recalled that on March 14, 17 officers of the Nigerian Military have been murdered by unknown individuals in Okuama in Delta, inflicting the Defence Headquarters Abuja to declare 8 individuals wished.

Although Okodeh’s title was not revealed on the wished listing, his {photograph} was posted on a reputation that was not his, which he additionally stated no member of his household or prolonged household bears.

Okodeh, who was the chairmanship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party for the April 11 LG elections within the state, was pressured to drop his title and substitute it with one other candidate following the publication of his {photograph} within the wished listing.

Different prayers sought within the swimsuit embrace an order of perpetual injunction restraining the CDS and CAS from arresting him as he’s a law-abiding citizen of Nigeria who had by no means had any prison document proper from childhood.

He equally prayed the courtroom to order the respondents to tender an apology, which must be revealed in each print and digital media, in order that he might have the liberty to stay his regular life.

(NAN)