Court adjourns Okuama fundamental rights suits to June 4 for hearing

The Federal High Court in Warri has fixed June 4, 2024 for the hearing on the fundamental rights applications filed by some Indigenes of the Okuama Community in Ughelli South against the Nigerian Army.

The presiding judge, Justice I. Sani adjourned to the date after hearing counsel for the applicants Thursday during the mentioned of the suits in Warri.

It could be reecalled that Okuama Community had been embroid in crisis following the gruesome murder of 17 soldiers on March 14, 2024 in the community.

Following the destruction of the community, the Nigerian Army was slammed with three different lawsuits over alleged destruction and breach of the fundamental rights of the Okuama Community and it's residents in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta.

The suits were: FHC/WR/CS/41/2024 and  FHC/WR/CS/42/2024 and another filed by an NGO.

Suit FHC/WR/CS/41/2024 had Victor Akemor and 16 others as Applicants with the Nigerian Army as the Respondent.

Similarly, Suit FHC/WR/CS/42/2024 had Prof. Arthur Ekpekpo, Mr Bernard Esegba and Mr James Oghohoko as Applicants while the Federal Government, Chief of Defence Staff and others as respondents.

In Suit FHC/WR/CS/41/2024, the Applicants through their lawyer, Chief Malcolm Omirhobo in their application sought the order of the Court for 15 prayers.

Among them were: an award of One Billion Naira against the Respondent as "Exemplary Damage" in favour of the Applicants and the residents of the Okuama Community.

A sum of one billion naira as "General Damage" against the respondent in favour of the Applicants and residents of the Okuama Community.

An order to compel the respondent to stop her troup from continued invasion of Okuama Community.

An order compelling the respondent to allow the applicants and the residents of the Okuama Community to return home from the villages and bushes they are currently living as destitute.

A perpetual injunction of the Court restraining the Respondent, her servants, agents and/or privies from killing, embarrassing, bullying and dehumanising the applicants and the residents.

And an order restraining the Respondent, her servant and privies from further violating the fundamental rights of the people of Okuama Community.

Respondents in the suit were never present neither were they represented in Court.

Addressing newsmen shortly after the Court's proceedings, Prof. Joseph Abugu (SAN) said that they were in court in furtherance of their rights in the event that transpired between the Nigerian Army and the people of Okuama Community.

Abugu said that the incident was already in the public domain, stressing that Okuama Community was invaded, razed to the ground and the indigene sent into the forest.

"They scattered all over the forest and they have not being able to return to their native community.

"While we pay reverence to the 17 officers who were gruesomely murdered by some individuals yet to be identified.

"We do think that the action of the military invading Okuama Community on a vengeance mission is unconstitutional, breach of the fundamental rights of the indigene and residents of the community.

"Since the court is the last hope of the common man, Okuama Community has no army of it's own and it is powerless before the Nigerian Army.

"But before the court, we expect to get justice, that is why we are here.

"Today, we have verified that the Nigerian Army, Attorney-General of the Federation and all the relevant parties have been served.

"We have taken a date to hear our application for the enforcement of the fundamental rights of the people of Okuama Community," Abugu said.

Members of the Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) trooped to the Court in solidarity with their embattled kinsmen.