Again Evans Drags Police To Court, Demands N300m As Damages For Illegal Parade
In less than 24 hours, suspected kidnap kingpin, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, also known as Evans, has dragged the police authorities to the Federal High Court in Lagos demanding the sum of N300 million as damages for his continued detention.
Evans in the fresh suit, he filed on Thursday, is praying the court to award him the sum as general and exemplary damages against the police for alleged illegal detention and unconstitutional media trial.
It will be recalled that the suspected kidnapper had on Wednesday, dragged the Inspector General of Police, the Nigerian Police Force, the Commissioner of Police, Lagos and the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Lagos Command before the same court seeking an order to compel the police to either charge him to court immediately or unconditionally release him from custody.
The suspect, in the new suit which has the same respondents, is seeking a declaration that his continued detention since June 10 without arraignment, violates his fundamental rights as guaranteed under the 1999 constitution.
Evans is also asking the court for a declaration that his public parade on June 11 before journalists in Lagos, at the Lagos police command headquarters in Ikeja, without any court order, is unconstitutional and illegal.
He is further urging the court for an order, compelling the respondents to immediately arraign him before a law court, or release him from custody forthwith.
The suspect is also seeking an order, compelling the respondents to jointly and severally, pay him the sum of N300 million as exemplary damages for illegal detention and alleged harm caused by media trial.
He also wants an order of perpetual injunction, restraining the respondents from further arresting, detaining, harassing, investigating or inviting him in relation to the facts of his case.
He seeks further orders as the court may deem fit to make in the circumstances.
No hearing date has also been fixed for his latest suit.
In a 27- paragraph affidavit filed in support of his earlier suit, his father, Stephen Onwuamadike had averred that the applicant has been subjected to media trial without any court’s order by the respondents.
Onwuamadike further averred that the media trial and news orchestrated by the respondents have continued to generate reactions in both print and electronic media without his son being afforded fair hearing before a court of law.
Evans had contended that his continued detention by the respondents since June 10, without a charge, or release on bail is an infringement on his fundamental rights.
