Edo APC youth leader, Mr Eriyo, petitions IGP

AGENE GODWIN, Benin

The Edo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), youth leader, Mr Eriyo Osakpamwan has petitioned the Inspector General of Police, the State Commissioner of Police and Chief Osaro Idah over the abridgment of his fundamental right to personal liberty.

Eriyo was at the weekend arrested by the Police in Edo state over alleged threat to the life of the State Secretary of the party, Chief Osaro Idah.

The other applicant in the suit is Mr. Sunday Osaguona.

In the suit before an Edo High Court by their counsel, Tom Oaikhinan, the applicants are also demanding a compensation of N1billion for exemplary and aggravated damages and a public apology from the respondents for illegal and unconstitutional violation of their rights.

The applicants want a declaration from the court that their arrest and detention without disclosing any scintilla of the offences since their arrest on 26, December 2016 is a violation of their rights, personal liberties as guaranteed by Section 35 of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria as amended and Articles 5 and 6 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (Ratification and Enforcement)/Act Cap 10 , Laws of.the Federation of Nigeria, 1990.

The applicants want a mandatory order from the court compelling the respondents, their officers, agents, servants, privies or otherwise howsoever to forthwith release them from the unlawful detention.

Addressing journalists in Benin Thursday, one of the counsels for the applicants, Mr. Ebosele Okhifoh, disclosed that they were not allowed to have access to their clients at the State Criminal Investigation Department by the police.

He also alleged that Mr Osakpamwan who he said was injured was denied access to his doctors, insisting that he has a right to his doctors just as he alleged that there were plans by the police to move him from the State C I D to the AIG Police Zone 5 with an application from the complainant.

He, therefore, appealed to Governor Godwin Obaseki to intervene in the matter as it.was related to their party.

He also called on.the police to grant bail to the applicants or charged them to court as required by law.

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