A High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has ordered the Nigerian Army to pay the sum of N20 million to the Chairman of Akuku-Toru Local Government Area, Roland Sekibo, and two others.
The court in the ruling on Monday said the amount would serve as damages for their harassments during and after the presidential/National Assembly elections in February.
Recall that the Army had declared Sekibo wanted during the February 23 election after conflicts between soldiers and locals in Abonnema resulted in the death of at least 37 persons.
Other beneficiaries include Tobins Tobins and Damiete Dokubo, whose houses were reportedly raided by soldiers during the election.
Justice George Omereji, who delivered the ruling, described the actions of the Army as undemocratic, adding that it was wrong for the military to issue a statement that indicted the trio without granting them a fair hearing.
Justice Omereji, while directing that the Nigerian Army and the Chief of Army Staff should pay the money, chided the Army for hurriedly declaring trio wanted without attempting to hear from them.
Lawyer for Serikibo, Ibim Dokubo, hailed the court ruling while for the Nigerian Army and the General Officer Commanding 6 Division, Port Harcourt and the Chief of Army Staff, Samuel Edewede, said they were not satisfied with the judgment and would appeal.
