The founder of the Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, has slammed a N200 million suit against a former member of the House of Representatives, Hon Ned Nwoko, and the Nigeria Police Force over alleged illegal detention and violation of his fundamental human right.
Joined in the fundamental human rights enforcement suit marked, FHC/CS/238/2022 are, the Nigeria Police Force, the Inspector General of Police, the FCT Commissioner of Police and Ned Nwoko, who are first to fourth respondents.
Sowore, in the suit, is praying to the Federal High Court, Abuja for an order directing the respondents to pay him the sum as general and exemplary damages for the violation of his fundamental rights.
In the suit filed yesterday by Sowore’s counsel, Marshal Abubakar, he wants the court to declare that his arrest on February 24, 2022, within the premises of the Court of Appeal, Abuja, by the Police, acting under the instructions and authorization of the IGP and 3rd and on the instigation of Ned Nwoko, over publications allegedly made by Sahara Reporters, a legal entity, separate and distinct from him, amounts to a breach of his right to personal liberty and freedom of movement as guaranteed under Sections 35(1) and 41(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (As Amended) and Articles 6 and 12 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement)Act, Cap A9, LFN 2004 and as such, illegal and unconstitutional.
He is also praying for, a declaration that his detention on the said date from the hour of 4 pm in the afternoon to around 9 pm in the night, by the Police on Nwoko’s instigation was a breach of his right to personal liberty and freedom of movement.
Consequently, he prays the court to order the respondents to apologise to him in two reputable national daily Newspapers for the violation of his fundamental rights.
He also prays for an order of the Court directing the respondents jointly and severally, to pay him the sum of N200 million as general and exemplary damages for the violation of his fundamental rights and to also restrain them or on their instruction or authorisation, in relation to the matter, from further interfering with or violating his rights.
Sowore, in an affidavit he personally deposed to said it was while he was in Police custody that he was shown the petition written against him by Ned Nwoko, alleging publication of news defaming his character in the Sahara Reporters.
He averred that he did not commit any offence to warrant his arrest and detention by the Police and that he do not determine the stories that are published on the Sahara Reporters platform.
No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit