Lawyer Threatens To Sue Army, JTF Over Alleged Unlawful Detention Of Delta Woman’s Husband

Human rights lawyer, Mr. Oghenejabor Ikimi, has threatened to commence a fundamental rights suit at the High Court, Effurun, Delta State against the Joint Task Force and the Nigerian Army for allegedly detaining unlawfully one Endurance Silver.

The lawyer, in a petition on behalf of Silver’s wife, Evenly stated that the said Silver was arrested by men of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) on the 20th day of March, 2021 at about 8:00pm along the East/West Expressway by E.J. Fast Food at Otovwodo in Ughelli, Ughelli North Local Government of Delta State.

He was said to have been held allegedly on a thumped up charge of vandalizing an Oil Well Head in company of one Mr. Isaiah Akrah.

But Endurance Silver, according to the petition had stoutly and vehemently denied the allegation.

The fiery human rights lawyer, in the petition addressed to JTF Commander in Bayelsa, demanded immediate release or transfer of the said Silver to the Police authorities for thorough investigation otherwise it wouldn’t hesitate to approach the law court for a fundamental rights suit.

The petition reads; “We have been briefed and our professional services retained by MRS. EVELYN SILVER, hereinafter referred to as OUR CLIENT and it is on her very succinct, firm and unequivocal instructions that we write you on the above subject thus:

“It is our brief that our Client’s husband, Mr. Endurance Silver, a commercial transporter was arrested by Men of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) on the 20th day of March, 2021 at about 8:00pm along the East/West Expressway by E.J. Fast Food at Otovwodo in Ughelli, Ughelli North Local Government of Delta State, on a thumped up charge of vandalizing an Oil Well Head in company of one Mr. Isaiah Akrah, a charge the said Mr. Endurance Silver stoutly and vehemently denied.

“It is our brief that upon his aforesaid arrest, our client’s husband, Mr. Endurance Silver was handed over together with his Volkswagen Golf 3 Wagon Car with Registration Number: SKL 998 AA to Men of the Military Police attached to the Sector 1, Joint Task Force, Effurun, Delta State where he has been held in custody since the 20th day of March, 2021 till date in very deplorable condition.

“It is also our brief that on the 21st day of March, 2021 the said Mr. Isaiah Akrah was also arrested by Men of the Military Police attached to the Sector 1 and was subsequently released a month thereafter on terms while our client’s husband continued to languish in your above facility till date without his being released or his formal handover to the Police authorities effected six months after his arrest and detention despite the numerous pleas of our Client.

“It is our further brief that despite a Solicitors letter written by our law firm on behalf of our Client to the Sector 1 Commander, Colonel Rabiu Garuba, to the effect that our Client’s husband be released unconditionally or be handed over to the Police authorities for investigation, six months after his arrest and continued detention, same has been to no avail, hence this petition to your office. For the avoidance of doubt, we attached a copy of the said letter to this petition for your action.

“It is in the light of the forgoing that we have the instructions of our Client to humbly demand and WE HEREBY DEMAND that you order the immediate release of our Client’s husband, Mr. Endurance Silver or in the alternative effect his transfer to the Police authorities for thorough investigation as we have the further instruction of our Client to seek lawful redress at the High Court, Effurun, Delta State against the Joint Task Force and the Nigerian Army for the enforcement of the fundamental rights of our Client’s husband, Mr. Endurance Silver and claim damages at large against the Joint Task Force and the Nigerian Army, PERIOD.

“We trust you would abide by our above explanations as justice delayed is justice denied”, the petition added.