Billionaire kidnapper, Evans Files Fresh Suit Against Police, Seeks N300m In Damages

Suspected
billionaire kidnapper, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike aka Evans, has again
dragged the Inspector General of Police, and three others before a
Federal High Court in Lagos over his alleged illegal detention.

In
the new suit filed on Thursday, Evans is claiming N300m as general and
exemplary damages against the police for alleged illegal detention and
unconstitutional media trial.

Joined as respondents in his new
originating motion are the Nigeria Police Force, the Commissioner of
Police Lagos State and the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Lagos State
Police Command.

Evans had on June 28 filed an ex parte
application with reference number FHC/L/CS/1012/2017, before the same
court, seeking an order directing the respondents to charge him to
court.

He had also in the alternative sought an order directing
the respondents to release him unconditionally where no charge is
preferred against him.

In an affidavit deposed to by his father,
Mr Stephen Onwuamadike, it was averred that the applicant has been
subjected to media trial without any court order by the respondents.

Onwuamadike
further averred that the media trial and news orchestrated by the
respondents have continued to generate reactions in both print and
electronic media without his son being afforded fair hearing before a
court of law.

Evans contended that his continued detention by the
respondents since June 10, without a charge, or release on bail, is an
infringement on his fundamental rights.

In his new suit also
marked FHC/L/CS/1012/ 2017 and with the same persons as respondents, the
applicant is seeking a declaration that his continued detention since
June 10 without arraignment, violates his fundamental rights as
guaranteed under the 1999 Constitution.

He is also seeking a
declaration that his parade on June 11 before journalists in Lagos, at
the Lagos Police Command Headquarters in Ikeja, without any court order,
is unconstitutional and illegal.

He is consequently, seeking an
order, compelling the respondents to immediately arraign him before a
law court, or release him from custody forthwith.

‘Evans’’ is
also seeking an order, compelling the respondents to jointly and
severally, pay him the sum of N300m as exemplary damages for illegal
detention and alleged harm caused by the alleged media trial.

The
suspect is also seeking an order of perpetual injunction, restraining
the respondents from further arresting, detaining, harassing,
investigating or inviting him in relation to the facts of his case.

He is also seeking further orders as the court may deem fit, to make in the circumstances.

No date has been fixed for hearing in his latest suit.

(NAN)