… Seeks N15.5bn In Damages Over Illegal Detention, Breach Of Human Rights
AYOTUNDE Richard, a gospel singer and former member of Mountain of Fire and Miracle Ministries (MFM), has dragged the General Overseer of the church, Dr. Daniel Olukoya, to court alleging a breach of his fundamental human rights.
Aside from Dr Olukoya, other respondents in the suit include Davison Olaniran Adejuwon Esq; Superintendent of Police Tawose Ayoleyi Ajayi and the Nigeria Police Force.
Olukoya, Davidson, Ajayi and the Nigeria Police Force are the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Respondents respectively.
Ayotunde, who was the leader of the Dr Olukoya’s backup singers, alleged that Man of God had him locked up at the Federal Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), Alagbon, Ikoyi for eight days.
He described his detention by the police as illegal, oppressive and a brazen abuse of power.
He claimed that his phones were confiscated and handed over to Dr Olukoya in an attempt to scan for the names of the perceived enemies of the church.
According to him, Dr Olukoya used his influence to have him detained in connivance with Superintendent Ayoleyi Tawose Ajayi, who is reportedly also a member of MFM and a close ally of the cleric.
Ayotunde also joined Davidson Adejuwon, a legal representative to Dr Olukoya, in the suit.
He accused the legal practitioner of playing critical roles in the perusal of his mobile phones and claimed that his detention in July 2023 at FCID was outrageous.
Ayotunde is asking the court to compel the Respondents to issue a letter of unconditional apology for breaching his right to privacy.
He is seeking from the court among others “A declaration that the Applicant, a Nigerian has a guarantee to rights to personal liberty, dignity of human life and privacy of his person, home, correspondence, telephone conversations and telegraphic communications as enshrined in sections 34,35 and 37 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).
“A declaration that the violent arrest of the Applicant on 18 July 2023 at 12:30 am thereabouts by the 3 and 4th Respondent is wrongful, unconstitutional, arbitrary and excessive.
“A declaration that the detention of the Applicant from 18 July 2023, to 26 July 2023, at the Federal Criminal Investigation Department, Alagbon, Ikoyi by the 3 and 4 Respondents before charging him to court as regard the complaint of one Opeyemi Emmanuel against him, grossly offends Section 34,35,36 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) and therefore illegal, outrageous and oppressive.
“An order compelling the Respondents to issue a letter of unconditional apology to the Applicant for breaching his right to privacy their illegal, unconstitutional access to and use of the information and communication of the Applicant’s SAMSUNG GALAXY S 20 FE and iPhone 12 PRO MAX phones without the authority and consent of the Applicant.
“And for such further or other orders as this honourable court may deem fit to make in the circumstances of this suit.”
The matter is slated for hearing today 9 February 2024, before Justice Olatokun at the Ikeja High Court.
Ayotunde had raised the alarm that Olukoya was after his life.
Source: PostrePorters
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