...... heads to Court
A seasoned journalist and Senior Correspondent with Punch Newspapers authorised to cover Nigeria Army and it's activities, Friday Olokor has demanded the immediate payment of the sum of N50,000,000 (Fifty Million Niara) as compensation for the assault, humiliation and inhuman treatment received from the Nigeria Army "Special Squad" from Maiduguri, deployed to Plateau State.
In a letter addressed to the Chief of Army Staff, the Counsel to Friday Olokor, Bar. Olisa John Tochukwu, demanded unreserved apology for the treatment meted to Olokor unless legal action will be instituted against the Nigeria Army.
Excerpt is the full text of the letter to the Chief of Army Staff:
10th October, 2018.
The Chief of Army Staff,
The Nigerian Army,
Plot 1092, Mohammadu Buhari Way,
Area 7, Garki,
Abuja.
Dear Sir,
CASE OF UNLAWFUL ARREST, GRIEVOUS ASSAULT, INHUMAN AND DEGRADING TREATMENT OF FRIDAY OLOKOR OF THE PUNCH NEWSPAPERS UNDER YOUR COMMAND LED BY CAPTAIN RABIU OF 3 DIVISION, NIGERIAN ARMY.
We are Solicitors to FRIDAY OLOKOR (Hereinafter referred to as "Our Client") and on his instruction we write.
Our Client is a seasoned journalist and Senior Correspondent with Punch Newspapers authorised to cover Nigeria Army and it's activities.
Our brief revealed that on Saturday, October 6, 2018, our client received a statement from the Nigerian Army through Col. Kayode Ogunsanya, and decided to immediately work on it and dispatch to his employers while taking his dinner at Anne Breeze Restaurant, Rayfield area Jos, Plateau State.
Our client arrived the restaurant before 9:pm but while working on statement and waiting for his dinner to be served, three truckload of Soldiers fully masked led by one Captain Rabiu invaded the area, arrested our client and many others without giving our client any reason for the arrest. Our client promptly identified himself as a journalist but was ignored.
Our client was informed that the ‘SPECIAL SQUAD’ from Maiduguri was deployed by you for his arrest.
He was later taken to the 3 Division of the Nigerian Army Headquarters in Rubuka Barracks, Jos, and kept in an uncompleted building where ALL HIS BELONGINGS were confiscated and held incommunicado. His plea to be allowed to communicate with his family or his editors was refused as the soldiers threatened to waste him if he does not keep quiet.
Our client was kept in the most dehumanizing condition with more than 30 other persons and made to urinate or pass faeces in the same room.
The next day, he was interviewed more than 5 times by Military police officers who kept him at constant watch. Several photos of his were taken as well as his house address.
It took the intervention of Col. Kayode Ogunsanya, the Deputy Director of Army Public Relations in 3 Division Army, who sent him the press statement to work on, before he was released.
Based on the above stated facts, we demand as follows:
(a) A written unreserved apology for the treatment meted to our client.
(b) Immediate payment of the sum of N50,000,000(Fifty Million Niara) as compensation for the assault, humiliation and inhuman treatment.
TAKE NOTICE that if you fail or neglect to heed the above stated demand within 48 (Forty Eight) Hours from the time of receipt of this letter, we shall immediately commence cogent legal action against you and your agents.
We hope to hear from you soon.
Yours sincerely
For: E.H Ugochukwu Chambers,
OLISA JOHN TOCHUKWU
Counsel
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