{"id":64202,"date":"2018-10-22T19:15:54","date_gmt":"2018-10-22T18:15:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/?p=64202"},"modified":"2018-10-22T20:49:26","modified_gmt":"2018-10-22T19:49:26","slug":"court-order-police-to-pay-charly-boy-n50million-over-attack","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/exclusive\/court-order-police-to-pay-charly-boy-n50million-over-attack\/","title":{"rendered":"Court Orders Police To Pay Charley Boy N50million Over Attack"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja presided over by a Hon. Justice John<\/div>\n
\n
\n

Tsoho in a landmark judgment delivered on Monday 22nd October, 2018 has
\nordered the Nigeria Police Force, the Inspector General of Police and the
\nCommissioner of Police F.C.T. Command to pay the sum of 50 Million Naira
\nand publish an apology in Two National Newspapers to popular musician and
\nactivist, Mr. Charles Oputa alias Charly Boy.<\/p>\n

In the suit filed on the 29th of March, 2018 by his lawyer and human
\nrights activist, Mr. Inibehe Effiong to enforce his fundamental rights,
\nthe 67-year-old popular musician gave a graphic account of how policemen
\nnumbering over 100 from the F.C.T. Police Command invaded the Unity
\nFountain in Abuja on the 8th day of August, 2017 and attacked him and his
\ngroup with teargas canisters, hot water cannon and wild police dogs during
\nthe Resume or Resign protest when he led other activists to protest the
\nprolonged absence of President Muhammadu Buhari from Nigeria on account of
\nhis medical vacation in the United Kingdom.<\/p>\n

Charly Boy further narrated that the attack by the policemen was so severe
\nthat he collapsed in the process and was rushed to the hospital.<\/p>\n

He also stated that the police attacked them because of claims that their
\nprotest over the President\u2019s absence, which had exceeded 90 days on the
\nsecond day of their daily sit-out protest, had gone international and
\nbrought serious embarrassment to the country.<\/p>\n

Delivering judgment on Monday in the case marked as Suit No.
\nFHC\/ABJ\/CS\/343\/2018 between Charles Oputa versus The Inspector General of
\nPolice & 2 Others, Justice Tsoho held that there was no evidence that
\nmiscreants invaded or stormed the premises of the protest as alleged by
\nthe police.<\/p>\n

On whether the Applicant is entitled to stage the protest, the court held
\nthat protest is a constitutionally guaranteed right provided it is done
\npeacefully and that even if miscreants were on the scene to hijack the
\nprotest, the Respondents possess enough security measures to dislodge such
\npersons and maintain law and order.<\/p>\n

\u2018\u2019The Respondents (the Police) need not exercise an uncommon aggression
\nand mayhem to wade off alleged miscreants\u2019\u2019 Justice Tsoho ruled.<\/p>\n

According to the court, the Respondents admitted in their Counter
\nAffidavit that it was in the bid to protect members of the public and
\npublic properties from the \u2018\u2019miscreants\u2019\u2019 who suddenly took over the
\nprotest that the men and officers of the Respondents had to use teargas
\ncanisters and hot water Canon in order to disperse the hoodlums. But that
\nthe Respondents stated that the teargas and water Canon were not directed
\nat the Applicant.<\/p>\n

This assertion according to the court, lacks substance as teargas
\ncirculates and affects all persons within the premises. And the atmosphere
\ngenerally affected which causes cough.<\/p>\n

The court found that the Applicant has disclosed a reasonable cause of
\naction against the Respondents and that the Respondents violated the
\nFundamental Rights of the Applicant\u00a0 to dignity of the human person,
\nfreedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association as enshrined in
\nSections 34, 39, and 40 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of
\nNigeria, 1999 (as amended).<\/p>\n

\u2018\u2019The law is that the court has the right to grant redress to anyone whose
\nright is violated and the Applicant is entitled to a remedy.\u2019\u2019 said
\nJustice Tsoho.<\/p>\n

\u2018\u2019Relief 4 is granted and the Respondents are ordered to publish an
\napology to the Applicant in 2 National Newspapers for violating his
\nFundamental rights. The sum of 50 Million Naira is awarded against the
\nRespondents as General and Exemplary damages.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n

The court also ordered a perpetual injunction against the Respondents from
\nviolating the fundamental rights to dignity of the human person, freedom
\nof expression and peaceful assembly and association.<\/p>\n

Reacting to the judgment, the Applicant\u2019s counsel, Inibehe Effiong
\ndescribed the judgment as a resounding victory for democracy, freedom of
\nexpression and peaceful assembly in the country.<\/p>\n

\u2018\u2019This judgment sends an unequivocal message to the Nigerian Police that
\nthey have no power to stop or disrupt peaceful protests by Nigerians. The
\npolice by this judgment cannot invent flimsy excuses to stop citizens from
\nexercising their fundamental rights to freedom of expression and peaceful
\nassembly. I am highly elated by this victory for democracy.\u2019\u2019 Effiong
\nsaid.<\/p>\n

Reacting to the judgment, the National Secretary of the OurMumuDonDo
\nMovement, Comrade Raphael Adebayo, in a statement said that the judgment
\nhas raised the confidence of Nigerians in the judiciary.
\n\u2018\u2019The OurMumuDonDo Movement wishes to express satisfaction over the
\njudgment of the Federal High Court in Abuja on the unprovoked attack of
\nthe police on its members during the ResumeOrResign Protest. This
\ndevelopment is a sign that the Nigerian judiciary is indeed committed to
\nupholding the supremacy of our country’s Constitution.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018\u2019We also wish to thank Justice John Tsoho for his sagacity in handling
\nthis case, just as we are grateful to our team of young, vibrant, and
\ncourageous lawyers who have tirelessly worked on this case to get us to
\nwhere we are right now.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018\u2019We wish to state unequivocally, that this victory is not only for the
\nOurMumuDonDo Movement but also for every Nigerian who believes that a new
\nand better Nigeria is achievable. We strongly hope that by virtue of this
\nvictory, Nigerians will feel more emboldened to speak truth to power, hold
\nleaders accountable, and resist fear in advocating for issues of social
\norder and social justice in our great country.\u2019\u2019 The statement read.<\/p>\n

The Respondents were represented in the case by O. M. Atoyebi and M. D.
\nPodos while Inibehe Effiong along with S. M. Oyeghe represented Charly
\nBoy.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja presided over by a Hon. 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