Evans associate sues police N100m for alleged rights violation

A suspected accomplice of alleged kidnapping kingpin Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike alias Evans, Mr Emeka Arinze yesterday dued the police at a federal high court in Lagos seeking his immediate release from detention.

Arinze, in his suit filed at the court’s registry through a rights campaigner, Mr Ogedi Ogu, is claiming N100 million and a public apology from the police for infringement on his fundamental rights.

Ogu is seeking a declaration that the arrest and detention of the applicant without any order validly made in accordance with the 1999 Constitution (As amended) is unlawful and illegal.

An affidavit of urgency sworn to by one Mrs Nkem Nwaka (Younger sister of applicant) averred that the applicant was arrested on June 27 at Festac Town, by the third respondent and taken to the office of the second respondent.

She said that he had since then been detained in custody with no access to his medications, family and lawyers.

The deponent averred that since the applicant was taken into custody, he was yet to be informed of his offence till date, and the respondent had refused to give reasons for the continued detention of the applicant.

The applicant’s lawyer is accordingly seeking an order of the court to release the applicant forthwith.

He also seeks an order directing the respondents to pay N100 million to the applicant, being damages for the breach of his fundamental rights.

No date has been fixed for hearing of the new suit.