Benue: Activist drags Governor Alia, police and others to court over 'unlawful arrest and detention'
A Benue social media activist, Mr. Gyenyer Paul Terhemba sued Governor Hyacinth Alia, police officials and the Benue State Attorney General.
Terhemba said he was wrongfully arrested following a post on his Facebook page about a N200 million human rights lawsuit.
Gyenger said the governor and law enforcement officers wrongly arrested him and he was wrongfully detained.
Gyenger was arrested last Friday, August 25, 2023, at his residence in Gyado Villa, Makurdi, for his Facebook post of August 18, 2023 in which he wrote that the Governor of Benue State allegedly embezzled 2 billion of Naira sent to the State. by the federal government on the palliative 5 billion naira intended for the population.
He also alleged that the governor used some of the money to complete his Guzape Abuja mansion.
In the complaint filed by his attorney, Barrister Clement Mue, Gyenger seeks a statement that his arrest, harassment, humiliation and continued detention to this day by Nigerian police men for a case purely civil are unjustified, unconstitutional, illegal and ultra vires.
Bar Mue said his arrest constitutes a gross violation of his right to personal liberty, freedom of expression, right to human dignity and right to privacy, provided for, protected and guaranteed by Articles 34, 35, 36, 39, 41 and 46 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 and Articles 5, 6 and 12 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights.< /p>
Mr. Gyenger seeks an order compelling the Benue State Governor, Benue State Government, Commissioner of Police, Benue State Command and Benue State Attorney General to pay him the sum of 200 million naira as compensation and damages for the crime committed. unlawful arrest and continued detention.
He also seeks an order directing the Nigerian police to immediately release him on liberal terms and an order requiring the respondents to issue an unqualified public apology in two national dailies for portraying him in a bad light in front of members of the Nigerian police. the public.
The activist further requests an order of perpetual injunction restraining the respondents, their agents, officers, servants and friends from further threatening to arrest, detain, intimidate and harass him.
The arrest of Paul Gyenger has generated a lot of public reaction, especially on social media, last week.
In a related development, Governor Hyacinth Alia warned the youth of Benue against using the opportunity created by cyberspace for negative purposes, blackmail and mischief against the government.
Governor Alia said his administration would provide an opportunity for those who make unjustifiable allegations about government officials and programs to prove their claims in the appropriate courts.
He made this known during a speech at a public reception in Makurdi, denying malicious reports from the opposition media that he had misappropriated palliative funds intended to cushion the effects of the suppression of fuel subsidies on citizens.
A Benue social media activist, Mr. Gyenyer Paul Terhemba sued Governor Hyacinth Alia, police officials and the Benue State Attorney General.
Terhemba said he was wrongfully arrested following a post on his Facebook page about a N200 million human rights lawsuit.
Gyenger said the governor and law enforcement officers wrongly arrested him and he was wrongfully detained.
Gyenger was arrested last Friday, August 25, 2023, at his residence in Gyado Villa, Makurdi, for his Facebook post of August 18, 2023 in which he wrote that the Governor of Benue State allegedly embezzled 2 billion of Naira sent to the State. by the federal government on the palliative 5 billion naira intended for the population.
He also alleged that the governor used some of the money to complete his Guzape Abuja mansion.
In the complaint filed by his attorney, Barrister Clement Mue, Gyenger seeks a statement that his arrest, harassment, humiliation and continued detention to this day by Nigerian police men for a case purely civil are unjustified, unconstitutional, illegal and ultra vires.
Bar Mue said his arrest constitutes a gross violation of his right to personal liberty, freedom of expression, right to human dignity and right to privacy, provided for, protected and guaranteed by Articles 34, 35, 36, 39, 41 and 46 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 and Articles 5, 6 and 12 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights.< /p>
Mr. Gyenger seeks an order compelling the Benue State Governor, Benue State Government, Commissioner of Police, Benue State Command and Benue State Attorney General to pay him the sum of 200 million naira as compensation and damages for the crime committed. unlawful arrest and continued detention.
He also seeks an order directing the Nigerian police to immediately release him on liberal terms and an order requiring the respondents to issue an unqualified public apology in two national dailies for portraying him in a bad light in front of members of the Nigerian police. the public.
The activist further requests an order of perpetual injunction restraining the respondents, their agents, officers, servants and friends from further threatening to arrest, detain, intimidate and harass him.
The arrest of Paul Gyenger has generated a lot of public reaction, especially on social media, last week.
In a related development, Governor Hyacinth Alia warned the youth of Benue against using the opportunity created by cyberspace for negative purposes, blackmail and mischief against the government.
Governor Alia said his administration would provide an opportunity for those who make unjustifiable allegations about government officials and programs to prove their claims in the appropriate courts.
He made this known during a speech at a public reception in Makurdi, denying malicious reports from the opposition media that he had misappropriated palliative funds intended to cushion the effects of the suppression of fuel subsidies on citizens.
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