By Adaeze Onuora Abakaliki
Abuja based human right lawyer and 2023 deputy governorship candidate under NNPP in Enugu state,files a fundamental right suit against banks, company and it's manager demands #10,000,000.00(Ten million naira)only as compensation
Chief Ifesi Nwodo Esq, a human right lawyer and deputy gubernatorial candidate of NNPP in the last general election in Enugu state, has filed an application in the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, seeking the enforcement of his fundamental rights. The application, marked as SUIT NO: CV/7271/2023, alleges unlawful actions warranted in breach of his human right taken by 2 banks,a company and it's manager.
The Application, brought pursuant to Order II Rule 1 of the Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules 2009 and Sections 34(1)(a), 44(1), and 46(1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, seeks various reliefs in response to the alleged violations. Nwodo's application targets Access Bank PLC, Taj Bank Ltd, Bayscom Energy Ltd, and Usman Ibrahim Bello (also known as Baba).
Chief Nwodo,who filed the action by his chambers Ifesi Nwodo & Co., claims that the Respondents have debited and withheld his money from 21st February 2023 without proper justification or informing him about the whereabouts of his funds. He asserts that this action constitutes a violation of his fundamental rights as enshrined in Sections 34(1)(a) and 44(1) of the constitution.
Among the reliefs sought by Nwodo in his application are:
A declaration that the respondents' actions in debiting and withholding his funds without Property justification violate his fundamental rights.
An order restraining the respondents from further debiting or holding his money.
An order directing the respondents to transfer the funds to his bank account.
An order directing the respondents to issue a written apology and publicize it in two national newspapers.
An order directing the respondents to pay N10,000,000.00 (Ten Million Naira) as compensation for the breach of his fundamental rights.
An order for costs of the legal action.
Nwodo's affidavit supporting his application provides a detailed account of events, including the initial transfer of funds, Rebecca Monday Unah,who also support the application of the Applicant with a supporting Affidavit, the subsequent attempts to purchase gas, and the interactions with the financial institutions involved. He claims that the ordeal has damaged his reputation among colleagues and the public, leading him to seek remedies for the alleged breach of his fundamental rights.
The date for hearing Chief Ifesi Nwodo's Application before the vacation Judge is yet to be fixed.
The Applicant Chief Nwodo in his interview with our correspondence said that he is waiting for date to enable him mobilize the court bailiff to serve all the court processes to the Respondents and hopes that his application succeeds so as to teach lession to the Respondents and general public that neglect human rights.
