Journalist drags Ohakim to court

The Federal High Court sitting in Owerri, Imo state capital, has adjourned hearing till the 20th of March in a suit filed against Governor Ikedi Ohakim and the state’s commissioner of police, Ilozuoke. The plaintiff, Maximus Uba, is protesting his interrogation and brief detention by Ilozuoke’s command through the instrumentality of Governor Ohakim. Uba, freelance journalist and Public Relations practitioner based in the Mbaise area of the state, had sued the governor for using the Nigerian Police to harass, intimidate and cause him bodily harm over an alleged case of defamation reported by the Governor against him.

The plaintiff, therefore, wants the Federal High Court to enforce his fundamental right to expression and liberty by seeking that no prima facie case has been made out against him to warrant his arrest and detention by the respondents and that his detention by the respondent based on facts of the case is unlawful.

Uba is seeking a perpetual order of the court restraining the respondents or their agents from arresting and or detaining him based on the facts of this case. He is, also, seeking a public apology from the respondents for his unlawful arrest and detention, as well as leave for all parties to stay all actions based on the facts of the case pending the hearing and determination of motion on notice.

When the case came up for hearing on Thursday February 19 this year, Uba, represented by his lawyer, Onyeneke Akachi (Esq), asked for adjournament of the matter since the respondents or their lawyers were in court.

The lawyer said the respondents were served last week, and wondered why they would prefer to shun court orders. Barrister Onyeneke revealed that despite the court orders, police authorities have continued to harass his client on telephone, asking him to come to their office or face arrest.

The trail Judge, Justice C.V. Nwokorie, adjourned the matter till 20 March to enable all parties prepare and appear before him.

It will be recalled that Governor Ohakim had, through his lawyer, Ken Njemanze (SAN), written a petition to the police claiming that over 175 articles written by the petitioner was capable of inciting the Imo public against him (Ohakim) besides lowering his self esteem and reputation and making him look like a jester.

Imo state police command, thereafter, invited Uba who was interrogated and briefly detained and given bail. Uba, afraid that the police had taken sides with the Governor, subsequently, sued both the Governor and the state police commissioner at the Federal High Court, presided over by Justice Chikwere, seeking enforcement of his fundamental human rights.