Family of 2 persons Held Captive By JTF in Nasarawa State Claims N40 million Damages By Rabiu Omaku, Lafia
The families of Umar Ibrahim (Tanko) and Adamu Ibrahim (Mal.Adamu) all of Doma Local Government of Nasarawa state has filed a suit against the Joint Task Force comprises of Nigerian Army,Police,SSS for unwarranted arrest and detention of their family members for twelve months without trial.
In a suit number FHC/LF/C5/3/15, they described the arrest as illegal, wrongful, unconstitutional and an infraction of their Fundamental Human Right before the Judge of Federal High Court Lafia.
The seventh respondents are
1. The chief of Army staff
2. Nigerian Army
3. The commandant, 177 Guard Battalion, Nigeria Army, Keffi
4. Inspector General of Police
5. Nigerian Police Force
6. The commissioner of Police, Nasarawa state
7. State Security Service (SSS)
At the hearing only counsel to the Inspector General of police, Nigerian Police and the commissioner of police was present in court, The counsel to the respondents, Joshua Abulayin seek for one week adjournment due to absence of respondent 1,2,3 and 7 respectively.
The case has been adjourned to the 17/3/2015 for further hearing.
In a motion number FHC/LF/M/9/15 and made available to universalreporters247.com by a family member, It stated that
That since the arrest of the applicants, the respondents refused to grant them bail nor charge them to any court of law for prosecution
That the applicants are peaceful citizens with no record of crime or any breach of public peace.
That the two applicants are Islamic scholars and both from Doma Local Government
That the 1st applicant is a staff with Doma Local Education Authority whereas the 2nd applicant operates private Islamic school in Doma
That on the 28th /2/2014 while the 1st applicant was discharging his duties at his place of work at central primary school Doma, The respondent’s agents stormed the school and arrested him.
Company of other family members, He went from place to place in search of the whereabout of the applicants all in vain as he was informed that the applicants were moved to Abuja on the directive of the respondents.
That on 1st day of March, 2014 at about 14.30am, security operatives with sophisticated weapon invaded the residence of the 2nd applicant at No 7 Alh Jafaru Street Doma, where they harassed and intimidate the entire family members and in the process caused the arrest of the 2nd applicant.
Relief sought
That the arrest and continue detention of the applicants since 28/2/2014 by the JTF constitute an infringement of the applicants Fundamental Human Right as guaranteed and protected by section 34 (1) (a) and 35 (1) and (3) of the 1999 constitution as amended and also contained in article 5 and 6 of the African Charter on human and people’s right.
That the continued detention of the applicants by the agents of the respondents is illegal, unlawful, and unconstitutional
An order directing the respondents to release the applicants forthwith or charge the applicants to a court of competent jurisdiction.
That the sum of N20, 000,000 only be paid to each applicant against the respondents to serves as an exemplary damages and compensation for unwarranted, wrongful and illegal infractions of the applicants Human Rights.
Directing the respondents to tender apology in three national dailies widely circulated within the north central region of Nigeria.
The predicament of the captives started following the emergence of leadership tussle between the two groups of Jama’atul Izalatul Bidiah Wa’Ikatul Sunnah Doma Branch, The division lead to the arrest of Mal.Idris, a renowned Islamic scholar who was bail by his relative in Nigerian Army.
His arrest and release lead to the apprehension of his followers, It was reliably gathered that insiders from the other group labeled them as members of the dreaded Boko Haram, No fewer than 6 Islamic scholars has so far been detained while others flee to unknown destination for safety, Only time shall tell.
