Anti-Banditry Fight: Nigerian Army Gets Favourable Ruling As Court Dismisses Kwara-based Expatriate’s Plea For N2b Damages
The Nigerian Army on Tuesday earned a judicial victory that will not only encourage the military to sustain the fight against terrorism and banditry in the country but had also helped in avoiding actions that may kill the morale of the soldiers.
Team@orientactualmags.com learned that the Federal High Court, Ilorin on Tuesday dismissed the case filed by a Lebanese Palestinian expatriate, Mr. Ibrahim Nassar seeking N1 billion in exemplary and aggravated damages and N1 billion in general damages.
He had in the lawsuit filed against Major General Obinna Onubogu, the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, and the Nigerian Army accused the military of unlawful arrest, detention and violation of his fundamental rights.
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In the lawsuit with docket number FHC/IL/CS/87/2025, which was filed by his lawyer, Professor M.T. Adekilekun SAN, Mr Ibrahim Nassar noted that without any assignable reasons, he was picked up by soldiers on the directive of the General Officer Commanding 2nd Division of the Nigerian Army, Ibadan on May 9, 2025, and was detained for many days before getting transferred to the Department of State Security that eventually released him.
He added that this was done after undergoing custodial interrogation and it was discovered that he was not involved in any wrongdoing.
Ibrahim said he was later rearrested by the Nigerian Army on the 16th June and was again, detained for many days without criminal charges preferred against him. He argued that the Nigerian Army had by the actions in question trampled upon his fundamental rights without justification and therefore sought reliefs that include N2 billion damages.
The Nigerian Army through its counsel, Abdulwasiu Bolaji Adeyi Esq of Legismatrix Solicitors however presented reasons to justify why such an arrest can be made by the military, citing national security and the plaintiff’s unholy relationship and association with the non-state actors terrorizing the community hosting his place of business and the surrounding communities.
Justice A. O Awogboro of the Federal High Court, Ilorin on Tuesday dismissed the case for lack of merit because the plaintiff had according to him failed to provide valid legal reasoning to support his claims-Team@orientactualmags.com Do you have any information you wish to share with us? Do you want us to cover your event or programme? Kindly send SMS to 08035023079, 08059100286, 09094171980 or get in touch via orientactualmag@gmail.com. Thank you
