Brutal assault on journalist: NUJ files N500m suit against Customs

Olomofe was on June 22, 2015, brutally beaten by hoodlums believed to be working for the NCS at Seme border and left him in the pool of his blood at a refuse dump.

The Nigerian Union of Journalists, NUJ, Lagos State Chapter, has filed a N500 million criminal suit against the Nigerian Customs Service, NCS, over the brutal assault of a Badagry-based journalist, Otunba Yomi Olomofe at Seme border post of the NCS last year.

Olomofe was on June 22, 2015, brutally beaten by hoodlums believed to be working for the NCS at Seme border and left him in the pool of his blood at a refuse dump.

In a fundamental rights suit filed by Mr. Jiti Ogunye on behalf of the NUJ and the brutalised journalist, the applicant is asking for N500 million as special and exemplary damages for the violation of the applicant’s rights.

The applicant, in the suit, asked the Court for a declaration that the beating meted out to him by the Defendants, which inflicted bodily and internal injuries on him on June 25, 2015 in the premises of the NCS, Seme, was “capable of infringing on his right to life as guaranteed by Section 33 (1) of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Article 4 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights.”

The applicant, however, prayed the court to declare that the beating on the said date in the course of discharging his professional duties and obligations constituted an infringement on his rights to freedom of expression and the press as guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution.

Joined as defendants in the suit are the Comptroller of Customs, Mohammed Ndalati, Deputy Comptroller, Emmanuel Nkemdirim, Assistant Comptroller, Ibrahim Turaki and the Comptroller General, Hameed Ali.

Others are the Nigerian Customs Service, Chief Sam Ibiye, Alhaji Momoh (aka Basket), Mr. Shehu and Mr. Elijah.