…Traditional leaders back suit
From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa
The Bayelsa State High Court sitting in Yenagoa has fixed December 8th for further hearing and appearance of witnesses in the suit filed by Ijaw youth activist, Comrade Collins Trueman Opumie over his alleged arrest and detention in an underground detention facility in Abuja for 730 days by the Department of State Security (DSS).
The Presiding judge, Justice Ebiyon Duke Charlie at the resumed hearing on Friday in the suit numbered YHC/324/2022 adjourned till December 8th ,2023 to allow for motions and hearing.
Justice Ebiyon Duke Charlie also rejected the attempts by the Counsel to the DSS, George Obiora to move for adjournment through a letter submitted to the Court on the demise of her mother.
Both the Counsel to the Claimant, Ebipreye Sese and Counsel to the Police, Silas Ebete objected to the request for adjournment through the letter, arguing that the letter was not filed before the Court and served on all parties to the suit.
The Bayelsa Youth Activists, Comrade Collins Trueman Opumie, had filed a suit against his illegal arrest and detention with demands for the sum of 9 billion in damages.
He is also praying the court to declare that his arrest, torture and subsequent detention without proper food and medical attention and access to family members for two years for false Imprisonment and malicious prosecution.
Opumie, an indigene of Opuama community in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area , who was among Niger Delta Youths that embraced the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), in his statement of claims, accused the DSS in Yenagoa of allegedly abducting him at the instance of the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) in a gestapo style, physically and mentally torture him, tied and throw him into the trunck of a vehicle and taken to Abuja like a common criminal without the knowledge of his family and access to medical care.
Meanwhile, the Traditional leaders of the Eniwari Community and Ogi-Ama community of Southern Ijaw Local Government Council Area of Bayelsa State have declared their support for the legal action against NAOC and the DSS.
Chairman, Traditional Rulers Council of Southern Ijaw and the Amananawei of Enewari community, HRH Job David Dairus, expressed confidence in the ability of the judiciary to expedite action on the suit and ensure justice is served to the Bayelsa Youth Activists, Comrade Collins Trueman Opumie.
Also, the Amananawei of Ogila-Ama Community in Opuama kingdom, HRH Kieri Ben Smith Idomo expressed dissatisfaction over the alleged oppressive operations of the Oil exploration companies in their domain, alleging that the case of the illegal arrest and detention of the Bayelsa Youth Activists, Comrade Collins Trueman Opumie is one case too many.
According to him, ” this case of illegal arrest was done in the past. I was part of a team to stand bail for over 13 boys illegally arrested and detained by the Niger Agip company.”