IPOB: Police, AGF, fail to appear in court as court adjourns Gloria Okolie’s case till March 22

The fundamental rights enforcement case filed by Glory Okolie, One Love Foundation and supported by more than 51 civil society groups came up afresh and denovo for hearing on 31st January, 2022.

Glory Okolie was detained and held in cell by the IGP IRT unit of Nigeria Police Force for over 150 days on bogus allegations of spying for IPOB.

When the case came up, there was no legal representation for either the Nigeria Police Force or Inspector General of Police (IGP) who were joined in the said suit as the first and second respondents and neither was their legal representation for AGF or DCP Tunji Disu, the IRT Commander joined as the third and fourth respondents.

Abuja based lawyer, Samuel Ihensekhien Jnr alongside Paul Odeh Esq appeared in representation for Glory Okolie wherein Ihensekhien Samuel Jnr urged the court to proceed with hearing of the case.

In view of service of the originating process on all parties in the matter, the presiding judge, Justice Yesuf Haliyu of the FCT High Court noted same, and then adjourned the matter to 22nd March 2022 for definite hearing and final adoption of all court process.

Glory Okolie in the case filed at the fct high court is asking the court to mandate the respondents to pay her the sum of N100,000,000,000.00 (one hundred billion naira) as general and punitive damages separately for infringing on her rights.

“A declaration of this honourable court, that the act of the Respondent in detaining the 1st applicant from the 13th June 2021 till date, without an order of any court permitting same, is a violation of the 1st applicant’s right to fair hearing and personal liberty as enshrined in articles 1, 3, 4, 5, 6 & 7 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act Chapter A9 LFN, 2004,” the court document read.

“A DECLARATION of this honourable court, that the act of the Respondent in detaining the 1ST applicant from the 13th June 2021, and beyond 71 (seventy one) days till date, without an order of any court permitting same, is a violation of the 1st applicant’s right to fair hearing and Personal Liberty as enshrined in articles 1, 3, 4, 5, 6 & 7 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act Chapter A9 LFN, 2004

“A DECLARATION that the beating/slapping, torturing, physical assault and verbal/vulgar abuse of the Applicant by the 1st Respondent and the respondents IGP IRT officers, without the applicant committing any crime known to law whatsoever, is illegal, unconstitutional and amounts to a violation of the 1st Applicant’s right to fair hearing and Personal Liberty as enshrined in articles 1, 3, 4, 5, 6 & 7 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act Chapter A9 LFN, 2004.

“A DECLARATION that the usage of the Applicant by the respondent IGP IRT officers by sexually assaulting the 1st applicant, usage of the 1st applicant to wash the respondent officers clothes and usage of the applicant to cook for the respondents IGP IRT officers ,even when the applicant was in the illegal custody of the respondent, and without the applicant committing any crime known to law whatsoever, is illegal, unconstitutional and amounts to a violation of the Applicant’s right to fair hearing and Personal Liberty as enshrined in Section 35 & 36 of the Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and articles 1, 3, 4, 5, 6 & 7 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act Chapter A9 LFN, 2004.

“AN ORDER of this Honourable Court restraining the Respondent to desist from engaging in untoward, violent and irrational conducts against the 1st Applicant.

“AN Order of this honourable court, granting bail to the 1st applicant on liberal terms to wit: unconditionally and conditionally pending the time the respondent deem it fit, to charge the 1st applicant to court in this regard.

“AN ORDER of this Honourable Court mandating the Respondent to pay the 1st Applicant the sum of N100,000,000,000.00 (One Hundred Billion Naira) as general and punitive damages separately for infringing on the rights of the 1st applicant.

“AN ORDER of this Honourable Court mandating the Respondent to pay the 1st Applicant the sum of N50,000,000.00 (Fifty Million Naira) as punitive damages for its recklessness, bias, malice, failure to perform its statutory duty when the Respondents officers within his knowledge, wholly infringed on the fundamental rights of the 1st Applicant in this regard.”