A Federal High Court in Calabar, Cross River
State, has cautioned Navy Captain Ibrahim Chomoko of the Eastern Naval
Command for allegedly threatening the lives of Mr. Joe Etene and his
lawyer, Mr. Wodah Ogar, over the case instituted by Etene against the
Navy.
Etene, a law lecturer with the University of Calabar and former member of the Cross River State House of Assembly, had dragged the Navy before the Federal High Court, presided over by Justice Adetokunbo Ademola, on ‘Fundamental Right Abuse’ in suit No. FHC/CA/M88/2010.
The petitioner had alleged that he was assaulted and beaten to a state of coma by some naval ratings, forcing him to approach the court to seek redress for assault, abuse and enforcement of his fundamental human rights.
After hearing the matter, Justice Ademola granted the pleas of Etene and awarded the sum of N150m as damages against the Navy. The money is to be paid to the petitioner.
However, not satisfied with the judgment, the Navy took the matter to the Court of Appeal.
Etene’s Lawyer, Ogar, alleged that Chomoko, after the sitting at the Appeal Court on June 28, 2011, threatened to beat up his client (Etene), saying that if he had been at the scene when Etene was beaten, he would have supervised his killing.
He also allegedly warned Etene’s lawyer to watch his back.
But Chomoko denied any form of threat or harassment to the lives of Ogar and his client, adding that he was even the person, who was threatened by the petitioner.
On his part, Justice Ademola said nobody was above the law. He added that he was worried over the situation.
“I am a bit disturbed. These people (lawyers) have been coming to the court and I never heard any kind of complaint like this. They are not flippant and dangerous people,” he said.
By Mudiaga Affe, Calabar Courtesy Of: Punch
Etene, a law lecturer with the University of Calabar and former member of the Cross River State House of Assembly, had dragged the Navy before the Federal High Court, presided over by Justice Adetokunbo Ademola, on ‘Fundamental Right Abuse’ in suit No. FHC/CA/M88/2010.
The petitioner had alleged that he was assaulted and beaten to a state of coma by some naval ratings, forcing him to approach the court to seek redress for assault, abuse and enforcement of his fundamental human rights.
After hearing the matter, Justice Ademola granted the pleas of Etene and awarded the sum of N150m as damages against the Navy. The money is to be paid to the petitioner.
However, not satisfied with the judgment, the Navy took the matter to the Court of Appeal.
Etene’s Lawyer, Ogar, alleged that Chomoko, after the sitting at the Appeal Court on June 28, 2011, threatened to beat up his client (Etene), saying that if he had been at the scene when Etene was beaten, he would have supervised his killing.
He also allegedly warned Etene’s lawyer to watch his back.
But Chomoko denied any form of threat or harassment to the lives of Ogar and his client, adding that he was even the person, who was threatened by the petitioner.
On his part, Justice Ademola said nobody was above the law. He added that he was worried over the situation.
“I am a bit disturbed. These people (lawyers) have been coming to the court and I never heard any kind of complaint like this. They are not flippant and dangerous people,” he said.
By Mudiaga Affe, Calabar Courtesy Of: Punch
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