Alleged rights violation: Anglican cleric sues Nigerian navy, seeks N500m damages

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An Anglican clergyman, the Reverend Tochukwu Agina, has instituted a civil suit against the Nigerian Navy at the Anambra State High Court sitting in Onitsha, seeking N500 million in damages over the alleged violation of his fundamental human rights. In the suit, Rev. Agina claims that his rights to dignity of the human person, personal liberty and freedom of movement, as guaranteed under Sections 34(1) and 35(5) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), were unlawfully violated Joined as respondents in the suit are the Nigerian Navy, the Nigerian Navy Board, the Chief of Naval Staff, Commander Kabiru Yusuf (Commander, Onitsha/Ogbaru Naval Base), the Naval Head of Okpotouno Naval Checkpoint, Ogbaru, and other yet-to-be-identified naval officers allegedly involved in the incident.

The action was brought through a Motion Ex Parte pursuant to the Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules, 2009, Sections 34, 35, 36 and 46 of the Constitution, and the inherent jurisdiction of the court.

In the suit, marked No. O/MSC/572/2025, the applicant is represented by a legal team led by Sir Ejike Ezenwa, SAN, alongside Sir Ben Uzuegbu, SAN; Sir Ben Osaka, SAN; Ikem Taylor Nwanegbo; Chijioke Nwankwo; Emeka Mebo; H. C. Udechukwu; E. Ibegbu; and C. T. Bemesi.

Rev. Agina is asking the court to declare that his arrest and detention by naval officers at a naval base on November 30, 2025, were unlawful, illegal and unconstitutional.

He is also seeking a declaration that his alleged harassment, humiliation and brutalisation at the Okpotouno Naval Checkpoint, Ogbaru, constituted an improper exercise of authority and violated his constitutional rights.

According to the applicant, he was accused of answering phone calls at the checkpoint, ordered to alight from a commercial vehicle, and subsequently detained at the naval base, actions he said infringed on his rights to personal liberty, dignity and freedom of movement.

Among the reliefs sought is an order directing the respondents to tender an unreserved apology to him and to publish the apology in a national newspaper acceptable to him, as well as any other orders the court may deem appropriate. Vanguard