A Federal High Court in Abuja, on Thursday, adjourned the N2 billion fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by Mr. Lucky Okodeh, former Caretaker Chairman of Southern Ijaw Local Government in Bayelsa, to November 28.
Justice Binta Nyako postponed the hearing after Okodeh’s counsel, Asmau Yunusa, requested additional time to respond to a counter-affidavit submitted by the Chief of Defence Staff’s (CDS) lawyer, Mimi Ayua.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Okodeh filed the suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/590/2024, on May 3, through Femi Falana, SAN. The suit names CDS Gen. Christopher Musa and Chief of Army Staff (CAS) Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja as the 1st and 2nd respondents.
Okodeh alleges that the Defence Headquarters unlawfully published his photograph, linking him to the killing of 17 soldiers in Okuama, Delta State. He seeks N2 billion in damages for the violation of his rights to personal liberty and dignity and asks the court to nullify the declaration, claiming it has severely impacted his political career.
During Thursday’s proceedings, Yunusa informed the court that she had just received the CDS’s counter-affidavit and needed time to respond. She also noted that the 2nd respondent, CAS Lagbaja, was not represented in court.
Justice Nyako suggested that the matter could be resolved amicably between the parties, stating, “This is not something we should waste the taxpayers’ money on.”
The judge then adjourned the case to November 28 for further mention and ordered that a hearing notice be served to the 2nd respondent.
In his affidavit, Okodeh stated that the wrongful publication had forced him into hiding and damaged his political ambitions, including withdrawing from the chairmanship race in the April 11 local government elections.
He further seeks an order of perpetual injunction preventing his arrest, an apology from the respondents, and for the apology to be published in both print and electronic media.
(NAN)
