Smart Jaja, the Special Assistant to Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, in Eastern Obolo Local Government, has dragged the Nigerian Army, 6th Battalion, Ibagwa, in Abak Local Government area, before the Akwa Ibom State High court, challenging his alleged wrongful arrest and detention.

In suit no; HU/FHR. 309/2024, Jaja listed as 1st applicant along with Elisha Pepple, Johnny Pepple, Noah Pepple, Obadiah Pepple and 32 other youths of Kampa Village of Eastern Obolo LGA are praying the court to award a five hundred million naira damages against the Commanding Officer listed as a respondent in the suit.

The applicants were alleged to have been arrested on September 10, 2024, by men of the Nigerian Army after they were brutalised and taken to the Army Barracks at Ibagwa, where they have allegedly been held behind bars for about 2 weeks without trial.

The applicants were said to have been arrested at night in the house of the 1st Applicant, where they had gathered as a central take-off point for a peaceful protest at dawn against the unwholesome oil and gas exploration activities of Sterling Oil Exploration & Energy Production Company Limited and their subsidiary/partner ? Natural Oil Services Limited.

In the suit, a copy of which was made available to our correspondent in Uyo on Tuesday, the applicants through their lawyer, Ekemini Udim, are praying the court to ?declare that their arrest and detention by the Nigerian Army, violates their rights to freedom of movement and personal liberty, guaranteed by Sections 35 and 41 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and therefore unlawful.?

They are also praying for the court, for ?an order directing the Officer Commanding Wellington Bassey Military Barracks, lbagwa, to bring before this court for assessment of their physical states and wellbeing, without delay, the Applicants in this suit and all other persons in their custody that were arrested at Kampa Village of Eastern Obolo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State on Thursday, 10th September 2024.?

?The sum of N500,000,000. (Five Hundred Million) Naira as damages and compensation against the Respondents in favour of the Applicants.? (The PUNCH)

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