Court Fixes June 19 for Judgment in N550m Rights Abuse Suit Against Nigerian Army

ABUJA — The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed June 19, 2025, for judgment in a N550 million fundamental human rights enforcement suit filed against the Nigerian Army, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), and six others.

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik set the date after the applicant’s counsel, Mr. E. A. Elijah, adopted his final written address during Monday’s proceedings. The suit, filed by Mr. Ambrose Akhigbe, an Assistant Director at Command Secondary School, Ipaja, Lagos, seeks redress for alleged threats to life, assault, battery, and other abuses.

The case, which was initially filed in November 2024, targets the Nigerian Army, the Chief of Army Staff, the General Officer Commanding 81 Division, the Commandant of Command Day Secondary School, and four named soldiers: Lt. Akabor, Pvt. Sani, Pvt. Ahmed, and Pvt. Montero — listed as the 1st to 8th respondents.

Despite being served court papers via substituted means — as ordered by the court on March 1 — none of the respondents appeared in court or sent legal representation.

In his application, Mr. Akhigbe accused the 5th to 8th respondents of violently assaulting him on June 10, 2024, after he allegedly recorded a video of senior secondary school girls being subjected to inhumane punishment by the military personnel. According to the plaintiff, the assault took place while he was making a phone call, with the attackers using sticks, planks, metal rods, and fists while threatening to kill him.

Supporting the claim, Mr. Elijah tendered video evidence marked Exhibit Flash A and a Certificate of Compliance. He urged the court to grant all reliefs sought.

The plaintiff narrated that the attack caused severe injuries to his head, resulting in heavy bleeding and later complications that required medical treatment in Abuja. He also disclosed that the assault disrupted academic activities as civilian staff staged a protest in solidarity.

Following the incident, the school’s Commandant reportedly took responsibility for initial medical bills and handed over the implicated soldiers to military police for investigation. Despite this, Akhigbe claimed that the Nigerian Army failed to respond to a formal letter of demand from his union and legal representatives.

Among the reliefs sought, Akhigbe is asking the court to:

Declare the actions of the respondents a gross violation of his fundamental human rights under Section 34(1) of the Nigerian Constitution and Articles 4 and 5 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights;

Award N500 million in general damages and N50 million as legal costs;

Issue a perpetual injunction restraining the respondents from further harassment;

Order the respondents to publicly apologize via video broadcast on two national television stations.

Justice Abdulmalik ordered that hearing notices be served on the respondents before the next sitting.

The case highlights growing concerns over the conduct of military personnel within civilian institutions and the rising call for accountability and respect for human rights.