Suspected
billionaire kidnapper, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike aka Evans, has again dragged
the Inspector General of Police, and three others before a Federal High Court
in Lagos over his alleged illegal detention.
In the new
suit filed on Thursday, Evans is claiming N300m as general and exemplary
damages against the police for alleged illegal detention and unconstitutional
media trial.
Joined as
respondents in his new originating motion are the Nigeria Police Force, the
Commissioner of Police Lagos State and the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Lagos
State Police Command.
Evans had on
June 28 filed an ex parte application with reference number FHC/L/CS/1012/2017,
before the same court, seeking an order directing the respondents to charge him
to court.
He had also
in the alternative sought an order directing the respondents to release him
unconditionally where no charge is preferred against him.
In an
affidavit deposed to by his father, Mr Stephen Onwuamadike, it was averred that
the applicant has been subjected to media trial without any court order by the
respondents.
Onwuamadike
further averred that the media trial and news orchestrated by the respondents
have continued to generate reactions in both print and electronic media without
his son being afforded fair hearing before a court of law.
Evans
contended that his continued detention by the respondents since June 10,
without a charge, or release on bail, is an infringement on his fundamental
rights.
In his new
suit also marked FHC/L/CS/1012/ 2017 and with the same persons as respondents,
the applicant is seeking a declaration that his continued detention since June
10 without arraignment, violates his fundamental rights as guaranteed under the
1999 Constitution.
He is also
seeking a declaration that his parade on June 11 before journalists in Lagos,
at the Lagos Police Command Headquarters in Ikeja, without any court order, is
unconstitutional and illegal.
He is
consequently, seeking an order, compelling the respondents to immediately
arraign him before a law court, or release him from custody forthwith.
‘Evans’’ is
also seeking an order, compelling the respondents to jointly and severally, pay
him the sum of N300m as exemplary damages for illegal detention and alleged
harm caused by the alleged media trial.
The suspect
is also seeking an order of perpetual injunction, restraining the respondents
from further arresting, detaining, harassing, investigating or inviting him in
relation to the facts of his case.
He is also
seeking further orders as the court may deem fit, to make in the circumstances.
No date has
been fixed for hearing in his latest lawsuit.
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