Detained leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has filed a fundamental human rights enforcement suit against the Department of State Service (DSS) at the Federal High Court, Abuja, over alleged gross violation of his constitutional rights.
Speaking at the Federal High Court complex after filing the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1585, Kanu’s counsel, Maxwell Opara, alleged that a doctor engaged by the DSS has extracted his blood over 21 times.
While lamenting that Kanu has neither been allowed to practice his religion nor change his cloth, despite a subsisting court order, Opara submitted that his client was undergoing persecution in the hands of the security outfit.
Joined as respondents in the suit are DSS director general, the DSS and the attorney general of the federation.
The suit was supported by an affidavit of urgency deposed to by Kanu’s younger brother, Emmanuel.
Opara told newsmen that when he visited the DSS detention facility last Thursday, the IPOB leader complained he suspected the doctor taking his blood sample to be a quack. He said Kanu alleged that his demand for the security agency to grant him access to his medical record was repeatedly refused.
The affidavit in support of the suit, read in part: “The applicant is a Nigerian citizen who is entitled to the enjoyment of the fundamental rights enshrined in Chapter 4 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended and Article 5 and 8 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (Ratification and enforcement) Act Cap A9 Vol. 1 LFN.
“The respondents have deprived the applicant access to facility and material to practice his faith and ultimately prevented the applicant from praying and/or practicing his faith, and the aforesaid constitute a breach of the applicant’s right to practice his religion.
“The respondents prevented the applicant from having access to a medical practitioner and legal practitioner of his choice.
“The respondent subjected the applicant to solitary confinement which is a form of mental and physical torture and as such, subjects the applicant to inhuman and degrading treatment and in turn constitutes a violation of Section 34(1)(a) constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended and Article 5 of the African Charter on Human and People Rights (Ratification and enforcement) Act Cap A9 Vol. 1 LFN.
“The applicant’s right not to be subjected to inhuman and degrading treatment and torture/humiliation is enshrined in Section 34(1)(a) constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended and Article 5 of the African Charter on Human and People Rights (Ratification and enforcement) Act Cap A9 Vol. 1 LFN.
“Order (ii) Rule (i) of the Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules 209 empowers any person who alleges that any of the fundamental rights to which he is entitled to is being, has been, or is likely to be infringed upon to apply to the court for a redress.
“The respondents have no justification to have subjected the applicant to indignity, humiliation, mental torture and inhuman and degrading treatment.”
The suit is among other things, seeking, “an order directing the respondents to immediately allow the applicant access to facility and material for the practice of his religion.
“An order of this court directing the respondents to immediately allow the applicant to appointing an independent medical practitioner of his choice from a certified government hospital to review the applicant’s medical files.
“An order directing the respondents to allow the applicant access to a medical practitioner of his choice and a legal practitioner of his choice.
“An order of this court directing the respondents to immediately remove the applicant from solitary confinement, and
“An order of perpetual injunction restraining the respondents, their authorised agents by whatever name so called, from further disturbing or interfering with the rights of the applicant to dignity of human person and freedom thought, conscience and religion or in any way infringing on the constitutional rights of the applicant as guaranteed by law or from making any attempt capable of violating the applicant’s rights as guaranteed under the constitution.”
