School official sues army for N550m over alleged assault

COAS Oluyede

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday fixed 19 June for judgment in a N550 million fundamental rights abuse suit filed against the Nigerian Army, the Chief of Army Staff, and six others.

The six others include the General Officer Commanding 81 Division, the Commandant of Command Day Secondary School in Lagos, Lieutenant Akabor, Private Sani, Private Ahmed, and Private Montero.

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik set the judgment date shortly after the applicant’s counsel adopted his written address as his brief of argument.

The suit seeks N550 million in damages from the Army.

Recall that on 1 March, the court ordered that the fundamental rights abuse suit be served on the Nigerian Army and the COAS via substituted means by publishing the court documents in a widely circulated newspaper in the Federal Capital Territory.

The order followed an ex-parte application filed by the plaintiff, Mr Ambrose Akhigbe, an Assistant Director at Command Secondary School, Ipaja, Lagos.

Akhigbe instituted the legal action against the Nigerian Army, the COAS, and the six others named as 1st to 8th defendants in the suit.

The suit alleges threats to life, assault, battery, and maltreatment, among other claims.

The Assistant Director, in the suit filed in November 2024, alleged that the respondents, particularly the fifth, sixth, and seventh, violated his rights by beating him and nearly killing him for allegedly filming the inhumane punishments imposed on SSS3 girls, who were made to roll in muddy water.