Alleged Illegal Detention: Court adjourns hearing on N9b suit against Agip by activist
Justice Iniekinimi Abraham Uzaka of the Bayelsa State High Court in Yenagoa, on Wednesday, frowned at the absence of the counsel to the Nigerian Agip Oil Company, NAOC, in the suit filed by an Ijaw Rights Activist, Collins Opumie, over his alleged illegal detention for two years in a secret centre of the Department of State Security (DSS).
The plaintiff, Collins Opumie alleged that the security department of the NOAC falsely accused him of being a threat to the company, prompting the alleged arrest and detention in an underground facility owned by the DSS in Abuja for two years without access to medical facilities and family.
Opumie, in the suit numbered YC/324/2022, is demanding the sum of N9 billion in damages and praying the court to declare that his arrest, torture and subsequent detention without proper food, medical attention and access to family members for two years is a gross violation of his fundamental right and his dignity as a person.
Justice Iniekinimi Abraham Uzaka, at the hearing of the substantive suit, was informed by the Counsels of the Nigeria Police Force and the Plaintiff, Ebipreye Sese, that the Counsels to the DSS and the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) were absent.
While the Counsel to the DSS informed the Court that their absence was due to urgent national engagement in Abuja, the Counsel to the NAOC did not tender any explanation to the Court.
Justice Uzaka, however, adjourned the suit till May 4th for a hearing.
Speaking to journalists after the court proceedings, counsel to the claimant, Ebipreye Sese, noted that inspite of the adjournment, justice will be dispensed by the court.
He said, “Ordinarily, today was for mention and this is the very first time the matter has come before the court for proceedings to commence but it was quite unfortunate that the DSS advanced a letter for adjournment requesting that the counsel to DSS has a national assignment and by virtue of that, proceedings could not commence. So the matter has been adjourned to the fourth day of May for proceedings to commence.”
“As a matter of fact, the 1st defendant is Agip and they have not made any attempt to respond and have not even appeared in Court. They have been duly served and I believe in the next adjourned date they will be in Court for justice to be done.”
The Counsel to the 3rd defendant, the Nigeria Police, SP C.S.E Ebete said he was comfortable with the next adjourned date.
Also speaking the National Spokesman of the Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, Ebilade Ekerefe, expressed dismay at how oil companies deliberately undermine the people of the Niger Delta in carrying out their activities.
Ekerefe said the Ijaw Youth Council will continue to fight against injustice meted out on any Ijaw sons and daughters, adding that the Opumie case is one amongst so many cases of Ijaw youths that have been illegally arrested and detained and nothing has been done.
He expressed dissatisfaction that Agip is handling the matter with levity, stressing that they have been served with the Court proceedings and expressed the hope that by the next adjourned date Agip will appear in Court.
