Fundamental Human Rights Action: High Court Grants Motion By Counsel For Extension Of Time
…We’ve Asked For N500m Compensation, says applicant’s counsel
A Port-Harcourt High Court presided by Honourable Justice Florence Fiberesima has granted an application for extension of time by counsel to first, second and third respondents in a fundamental human rights suit brought by counsel to an applicant.
The extension of time is to enable counsel to the first, second and third respondents file a response to the applicant’s counsel’s motion to enforce fundamental human rights of his client.
Speaking in an interview over the case at the end of hearing on Tuesday, counsel to the applicant, Barrister Ajayi Olusegun, said that the action was against the State Security Service (SSS) for allegedly arresting and detaining his client Mr Richard Abe in their facility for over three weeks without committing any offence.
He said that his client was however hurriedly released on administrative bail after he had secured order of court to produce him in court.
The three respondents are the State Security Service, Director of SSS, Rivers State Command and the Officer in charge of Operations and Intelligence, Rivers State Command and Attorney-General of Rivers State as fourth respondent.
The applicant’s counsel said that operatives of the SSS had invaded the residence of his client and detained him in their facility alleging that they had also beaten up his security man.
Asked what he was asking for in the suit, Barrister Olusegun said that he was demanding N500million as compensation for his client adding that the rule of law should prevail.
On Tuesday, counsel to the first, second and third respondents, B. O. George, had applied for extension of time to enable her respond to applicants counsel’s motion.
The respondents’ counsel however refused to speak with court reporters at the end of hearing on Tuesday.
Honourable Justice Fiberesima adjourned the case to 12 September for hearing.
