Okorocha sues IGP, EFCC, demands N1bn in damages over home invasion

Rochas Okorocha, Imo governor, has sued Ibrahim Idris, the
inspector-general of police (IGP), over an alleged breach of his
fundamental human rights in respect to the “ransacking” of his
house in Jos.

The governor, who filed his case before justice Musa Kurya of
the Jos federal high court, is demanding N1.25 billion as general
damages for the action.

Joined in the suit are Plateau commissioner of police, the
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the
attorney-general of the federation and minister of justice.

Okorocha, through his counsel, Markus Saleh (SAN), had told the
court that on May 3, the respondents had invaded his home in Jos
and held his family members and staff hostage in a search conducted
without any court warrant.

He prayed the court to declare the action as “illegal, null and
void” as there was no valid court warrant for such an exercise.

Okorocha also prayed the court for a perpetual injunction
restraining the respondents from further doing anything as such in
his homes across the country.

He further sought for an order declaring that only the Imo house
of assembly had the constitutional rights and power to supervise,
monitor, legislate, appropriate and demand accounting of public
funds of the state from him.

He asked the court to order the respondents to pay him the N1
billion as general damages and N25 million as cost of instituting
the case.

The case has been adjourned to January 24 for the adoption of
final written addresses by all parties in the case.