Court fixes Feb 1st for enforcement of journalist’s human rights

The Federal High sitting in Akure, the Ondo State capital, has fixed February 1^st for the hearing of enforcement of fundamental human rights suit filed against the Commissioner of Police in Oyo State and Comptroller of Nigeria Customs Service in Osun and Oyo states, Mr. Adamu Abdulkadir.

An Akure-based newspaper publisher, Otunba Gbenga Adebayo filed the suit for the enforcement of his fundamental human rights, which he claimed were breached by the law enforcement agencies when he was arrested in October last year.

Adebayo had alleged that he was beaten by policemen who came to arrest him for writing a letter to the Comptroller of the Customs Services to confirm or deny allegations against him.

Through his lawyer, Mr. Kayode Dare, the applicant sought a declaration that his arrest, torture and humiliation by anti-kidnapping squad attached to Oyo State Police Command without committing any offence is illegal, unconstitutional, null and void.

Adebayo asked for a sum of N20 million damages against the respondents jointly and severally in favour of the applicant for the unlawful arrest, naked, harassment, torture, humiliation, beaten and detention by the law enforcement agencies.

In the affidavit attached to the suit, the publisher alleged that he was arrested by three policemen who handcuffed, chained and sandwiched him into a waiting car and driven from Akure, the Ondo State capital to Ibadan, Oyo State Capital.

He alleged that he was half naked as at the time he was whisked to Ibadan for an offence he did not commit.

Adebayo said he was denied food and water throughout the duration of the journey and during his stay at the police custody at the anti-kidnapping squad office in Dugbe, Ibadan.

He said his humiliation was at the instance of the Comptroller of the Customs Services in Osun and Oyo states.

The court fixed February 1 for the hearing of the suit