NUJ sues Customs over alleged assault on journalist
The Lagos State chapter of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) has sued the Nigeria Customs Service (NSC) for alleged assault on a journalist Yomi Olomofe at the Seme Border Post in the Badagry area of Lagos. The NUJ is seeking a N500 million compensation for the alleged victim in the suit, filed before a […]
The Lagos State chapter of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) has sued the Nigeria Customs Service (NSC) for alleged assault on a journalist Yomi Olomofe at the Seme Border Post in the Badagry area of Lagos.
The NUJ is seeking a N500 million compensation for the alleged victim in the suit, filed before a Federal High Court in Lagos. Apart from the NCS, the respondents included the Comptroller-General of Customs Hameed Ali, the Comptroller Mohammed Ndalati, the Deputy Comptroller Emmanuel Nkemdirim, the Assistant Comptroller Ibrahim Turaki and other NCS personnel.
The applicant also asked the court for a declaration that the beating allegedly meted out to Olomofe by the respondents on June 25, last year in the premises of the NCS, Seme Border Post, which allegedly inflicted bodily and internal injuries on him was “capable of infringing on his right to life as guaranteed by Section 33 (1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Article 4 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights.”
Besides, the applicant prayed the court to declare that the alleged beating of the journalist on the said date in the course of discharging his professional duties and obligations constituted an infringement on his rights to freedom of expression as guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution.
The NUJ, in one of its prayers, also asked the court to make a pronouncement against the treatment meted out to the journalist who was allegedly presumed dead and left at a refuse dump after the attack.
Speaking at a press conference on the suit, counsel to both the NUJ and Olomofe, Jiti Ogunye, said that Olomofe was beaten black and blue within the premises of the NCS on the said date by persons believed to be working for the NCS, adding that the assault on the journalist by unidentified persons within the premises of the NCS was in clear violation of the journalist’s fundamental human rights.
He lamented that it was unfortunate that journalists have continued to be battered by security agents and the powers-that-be, notwithstanding the important role they play in the society and being the Fourth Estate of the Realm as bestowed on them by the constitution.
Also speaking at the press conference, National President of the NUJ, Waheed Odusile and Chairman of the Lagos State chapter, Deji Elumoye vowed that the union would not allow the matter to be swept under the carpet, adding that the union would pursue it to a logical conclusion.