Tom Uhia, 72-year-old journalist and publisher of Power Steering
Magazine, detained on the orders of Nigeria’s Minister of State for
Power, Jeddy Agba, has been returned to police detention as the
court failed to hear his fundamental human rights enforcement suit
instituted by his legal team.
![image](/2020/10/lawbreedadvrt.jpg")
![image](/2020/10/lawreport.jpg")
The matter, which was supposed to come up for hearing on
Thursday, was stalled due to the absence of the judge.
![image](/2020/10/NWLRland.jpg")
No official reason was given for the absence of the judge.
Uhia has spent 26 days in detention at the Force CIID, Garki,
Abuja, following his arrest after allegedly publishing a report on
Agba.
Uhia’s legal team had dragged Agba, the DIG in charge of Force
CIID, Micheal Anthony Ogbizi, ACP. Tahir Usman, ACP. Gabriel
Elaigwu, Rojas Elijah Elebel and the Nigeria Police Force as 1st to
6th respondents before Justice Peter Affen of FCT High Court,
Maitama, Abuja, to enforce his fundamental rights to personal
liberty as guaranteed by sections 35, 37, 41 and 43 of 1999
constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).
In the originating summons, the applicant is asking the court to
award him the sum of N100m for his detention from Tuesday, 13th to
15th October, 2020, and his continued detention from Friday, 16th
October 2020, after the fulfillment of the bail conditions till
date without his arraignment before a court of competent
jurisdiction.
Uhia is also demanding another N10m as general damages for the
mental trauma, unnecessary inconveniences, waste of time and
expenses occasioned by the applicant’s continued detention by the
respondents.
In a suit No: FCT/HC/M/10987/2020, the journalist is seeking a
declaration that his detention at Force CID, Abuja, by the 2nd to
-5th Respondents, all officers of 6th respondent at the instance of
the 1st respondent from Tuesday, 13th October, 2020 to 15th
October, 2020, and his continued detention from Friday, 16th
October 2020, after the fulfillment of his bail conditions till
date without his arraignment before a court of competent
jurisdiction, is illegal, unlawful, unconstitutional and violates
his rights to personal liberty guaranteed under Section 35 of the
constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as
amended).
His vounsel, Alex Oketa, filed the suit on his behalf.
A new date was fixed for Tuesday, 10th November 2020 for hearing
and determination of the enforcement of human rights suit of the
publisher.
Tom Uhia, 72-year-old journalist and publisher of Power Steering
Magazine, detained on the orders of Nigeria’s Minister of State for
Power, Jeddy Agba, has been returned to police detention as the
court failed to hear his fundamental human rights enforcement suit
instituted by his legal team.
The matter, which was supposed to come up for hearing on
Thursday, was stalled due to the absence of the judge.
No official reason was given for the absence of the judge.
Uhia has spent 26 days in detention at the Force CIID, Garki,
Abuja, following his arrest after allegedly publishing a report on
Agba.
Uhia’s legal team had dragged Agba, the DIG in charge of Force
CIID, Micheal Anthony Ogbizi, ACP. Tahir Usman, ACP. Gabriel
Elaigwu, Rojas Elijah Elebel and the Nigeria Police Force as 1st to
6th respondents before Justice Peter Affen of FCT High Court,
Maitama, Abuja, to enforce his fundamental rights to personal
liberty as guaranteed by sections 35, 37, 41 and 43 of 1999
constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).
In the originating summons, the applicant is asking the court to
award him the sum of N100m for his detention from Tuesday, 13th to
15th October, 2020, and his continued detention from Friday, 16th
October 2020, after the fulfillment of the bail conditions till
date without his arraignment before a court of competent
jurisdiction.
Uhia is also demanding another N10m as general damages for the
mental trauma, unnecessary inconveniences, waste of time and
expenses occasioned by the applicant’s continued detention by the
respondents.
In a suit No: FCT/HC/M/10987/2020, the journalist is seeking a
declaration that his detention at Force CID, Abuja, by the 2nd to
-5th Respondents, all officers of 6th respondent at the instance of
the 1st respondent from Tuesday, 13th October, 2020 to 15th
October, 2020, and his continued detention from Friday, 16th
October 2020, after the fulfillment of his bail conditions till
date without his arraignment before a court of competent
jurisdiction, is illegal, unlawful, unconstitutional and violates
his rights to personal liberty guaranteed under Section 35 of the
constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as
amended).
His vounsel, Alex Oketa, filed the suit on his behalf.
A new date was fixed for Tuesday, 10th November 2020 for hearing
and determination of the enforcement of human rights suit of the
publisher.