One Federal High Court for Abuja don adjourn one N2 billion fundamental rights enforcement suit wey Lucky Okodeh, former Caretaker Chairman of Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa, file against Nigerian military till November 28.
Justice Bina Nyako, wey be the judge for the case, call for out-of-court settlement of the matter. She say the issue be something wey the parties involved can resolve amicably without wasting taxpayers’ money.
Lucky Okodeh’s lawyer, Asmau Yunusa, tell the court say she need little time to respond to a counter-affidavit wey the lawyer to the Chief of Defence Staff, Mimi Ayua, file. The Chief of Army Staff, Taoreed Lagbaja, no dey represented in court.
Okodeh accuse the defendants of publishing his photograph among those wanted in connection to the killing of 17 soldiers in Okuama in Delta State. He pray the court to award him N2 billion in damages for alleged violation of his rights to personal liberty and dignity.
Okodeh also pray the court to set aside his declaration and award the fine as compensation for damages suffered over the action of the Defence Headquarters Abuja. He claim say the action affect his political career and make him go into hiding.
On March 14, 17 officers of the Nigerian Army were murdered by unknown persons in Okuama, and the Defence Headquarters Abuja declare eight persons wanted. Though Okodeh’s name no dey the published wanted list, his photograph was posted against a name that was not his.
Okodeh, who was the chairmanship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party for the April 11 local government elections in Bayelsa, was forced to withdraw from the election and his name substituted with another candidate following the publication of his photograph.
