Maverick entertainer, Charles Oputa, popularly called Charlyboy, has
dragged the FCT Police Command before the Federal Capital Territory High
Court in Maitama, Abuja over the harassment he and members of
OurMumuDonDo as well as Concerned Nigerians, faced during the resume or
resign protests.
The FCT Police Commissioner is joined as respondents in the motion he filed by his lawyer, Inibehe Effiong.
According to a copy of the fundamental rights enforcement suit with
reference number FCT/HC/CV/3037/2017 and dated 4th October, 2017
obtained by DAILY POST; Oputa is asking the court to determine “whether
the use of teargas canisters, water cannon and wild police dogs by the
agents and officers of the Respondent to attack, harass and disperse
members of the OurMumuDonDo movement and Concerned Nigerians group
during a peaceful demonstration at the Unity Fountain in Maitama, Abuja
is not unjustifiable, illegal, unconstitutional and a breach of the
Applicant’s fundamental rights to the dignity of the human person,
freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association and contrary to
Sections 34, 39 and 40 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of
Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and Articles 5, 9, 10 and 11 of the African
Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act,
Cap. A9, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.”
He is also praying the court to determine whether having regard to
the facts and circumstances of this case and the evidence before the
Court, he is entitled to public apology, compensation, damages and other
reliefs sought in the Application from the Respondent.
Upon resolution of the above issue, Oputa is seeking eight reliefs from the court which include the following:
“An Order compelling the Police to publish a public apology to him in
five National Newspapers, and the payment of the sum of N500m as
general damages to him for the violation of his fundamental rights to
dignity of the human person, freedom of expression, peaceful assembly
and association on Tuesday, 8th August, 2017 at Unity Fountain in
Maitama, Abuja,” the originating motion reads.
No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.
0 comments:
Post a Comment