ARMY INVESTIGATES ASSAULT OF CITIZEN ODIETE FOLLOWING PETITION BY RIGHTS GOUP

National




Centre for the Vulnerable and the Underprivileged, (Centrep),
Justice House,
No. 157, Jakpa Road,
By Edu Road Junction,
Near Up-Delta,
Effurun.
GSM: 08023099637; 08036607603
Email: fjhd_rights@yahoo.com
Web: www.oghenejaborikimi.com
PRESS RELEASE

THE CHIEF OF ARMY STAFF, LT. GEN TUKUR YUSUF BURATAI ORDERS INVESTIGATION INTO THE CASE OF CITIZEN FREEDOM ODIETE ASSAULTED AND TORTURED BY SOLDIERS OF THE 3 BATTALION, EFFURUN BARRACKS, EFFURUN, DELTA STATE.

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen Tukur Yusuf Buratai upon a petition written by the law firm of IKIMI OGHENEJABOR & CO., on the 12th day of March, 2018 on behalf of Citizen Freedom Odiete, a Community Leader in Ovwian Town who was on the 21st day of February, 2018 assaulted, battered and tortured by solders of the 3 Battalion, Effurun Barracks, Effurun, Delta State has ordered the Nigerian Army Corps of Military Police, 6 Division Provost Group of the Headquarters 6 Division of the Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt to investigate the said incident.

You would recall that Citizen Freedom Odiete on the 21st day of February, 2018 at about 11:30am was intercepted at the popular Jigbale Market, Ovwian, Delta State by soldiers numbering eight led by one Captain Kingsley Ukwani, the head of Operations at the 3 Battalion, Effurun Barracks, Effurun, Delta State who ordered Citizen Freedom Odiete at gun point to come down from his vehicle and enter the Hilux Van conveying the said soldiers, an order Citizen Freedom Odiete complied with promptly and was whisked away to the Army Barracks, Effurun by the said rampaging soldiers.

That at the said Barrack, Citizen Freedom Odiete was stripped naked by the soldiers after which his legs and hands were chained by his abductors led by Captain Kingsley Ukwani who severely assaulted, battered and tortured the victim he had accused of being responsible for the disappearance of one Oghenerume Bejeru an alleged robbery suspect caught in the act at the Ogodogun – Ogode Urban Area of Ovwian Town.

Citizen Freedom Odiete in the process of the above torture sustained multiple bruises, lacerations to the buttocks and his left upper limb swollen. After the said torture the victim at about 4:00pm same day was driven by two military Policemen in their Hilux Van to the Area Command Office, Warri where investigation commenced immediately.

On the 23rd day of February, 2018 the Area Commander, ACP Muhammad M. Shaba ordered the release of Citizen Freedom Odiete after he was exonerated of any wrong doing. The victim was treated at the Nigeria Police Clinic, Area Command, Warri where he was issued a medical report to that effect.

On the 12th day of March, 2018 after the victim had fully recuperated, he briefed the law firm of IKIMI OGHENEJABOR & CO., who wrote the above petition to the Chief of Army Staff and thereafter on the 8th day of May, 2018 commenced a fundamental rights suit in Suit No: OUHC/65/2018 BETWEEN MR. FREEDOM ODIETE VS. CAPTAIN KINGSLEY UKWANI & 7 ORS at the High Court, No. 2 Otor-Udu for half a billion naira damages against Captain Kingsley Ukwani, the Nigerian Army and others.

Take Notice that the above public interest case/suit is geared towards promoting human rights culture in our polity as same is not aimed at disparaging anybody or institution. We hope that this case/suit would serve as a lesson to the Men in uniform to respect the fundamental rights of the civil population.

Long live centrep! Long live Delta State!! Long live Nigeria!!!

OGHENEJABOR IKIMI, ESQ.,
(Executive Director)

 

 

 

 

 

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