The Rivers State chapter of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has instigated a suit against the State Government of Governor Rotimi Amaechi, filing a petition to the Attorney General of Rivers State, the Chief Registrar of the High Court, the Judicial Service Commission and the Commissioner of Police, alleging a violation of the fundamental human rights of over three thousand members of the association in the state.
Making the move known to newsmen was the State Chairman of the NBA, Denis Okwapkam, who availed that the NBA in Rivers State was seeking N500 million in damages from the State.
Okwakpam further accused the state government of politicizing the state judiciary, contesting the denial of entry into the High Court complex and the seizure of the official vehicles of lawyers.
He said: “The Port Harcourt branch of the NBA has instituted a Fundamental Human Rights Action at the Federal High court in Port Harcourt against the Attorney General of Rivers state, the Chief Registrar, the Rivers state Judicial Service Commission and the Commissioner of Police, Rivers state for the sum of N500 million as exemplary damages for the continued breach of the Fundamental rights of the over 3000 members of the Association in Port Harcourt.
“From the available Court processes filed in the matter in Suit No. FHC/PH/FHR/146/2015, the applicants are claiming that the respondents have denied them access to their offices within the High Court Complex in Port Harcourt, since the 12/9/2014 and the records of their members and detained their coaster and Hiace buses.”
