The Federal High Court in Warri, Delta State, has fixed June 4, 2024, for hearing the fundamental human rights applications filed by some indigenes of the troubled Okuama community in Ughelli South Local Government Area against the Nigerian Army and the Federal Government.

The presiding judge, Justice I. Sani, adjourned the date for the hearing to June 4 after listening to counsel for the applicants on Thursday during the mention of the suits in Warri.

It will be recalled that the Okuama community came to a notorious, but tragic limelight following the cruel murder of 17 soldiers and officers of the Nigerian Army on March 14, 2024, near the community.

The tragedy somewhat availed the bereaved Nigerian military to allegedly invade the community to avenge the killing of its officers and men after cordoning off the community to date.

Following the purported destruction of the community, a group of lawyers from the axis slammed the Nigerian Army and the Federal Government with three different lawsuits over the alleged destruction and breach of the fundamental rights of the Okuama community and its residents.

The suits included the following: FHC/WR/CS/41/2024 and FHC/WR/CS/42/2024 and another filed by an Non Governmental Organisation.

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, the 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 the prayers 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 troops 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 servants and privies from further violating the fundamental rights of the people of Okuama Community.”

Respondents in the suit did not appear nor represented in the court on Thursday.

Meanwhile, while addressing journalists shortly after the Court’s proceedings on Thursday, 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 the Okuama Community was invaded, razed to the ground and the indigenes sent into the forest.

“They are scattered all over the forest and they have not been 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 its 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 the Okuama Community,” Abugu said.

Several pressure groups and stakeholders, including members of the Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) were in court in solidarity with the people of Okuama.

Source: Tribune

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