A nongovernmental organisation, the Centre for Human Rights and Anti-Corruption Crusade (CHURAC), has instituted a fundamental rights action in Suit No: W/400/FHR/2024 between it and one Engr. Jude Gbaboyor Akpodubakaye, for the latter's constant harassment, intimidation, cyber bullying and stalking, malicious and frivolous allegations on his Facebook page against the Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), High Chief (Dr.) Dennis Otuaro.

This was contained in a statement that was signed by CHURAC's Chairman, Board of Trustees, Alaowei, Cleric Ebikonbowei, Esq. 

The human rights body stated that it instituted the lawsuit as a concerned Nigerian to enforce the rights of Otuaro, the Administrator of the PAP, which have been flagrantly violated by the said Gbaboyor.

In a 21 paragraph Affidavit deposed to by the Publicity Secretary/member, Board of Trustees of the association, Mr. Oyinkedi Fuofegha, it stated amongst others that:

"The constant harassments by the Respondent on his facebook page against Chief (Dr.) Dennis Brutus Otuaro and ridiculing and insulting his religious belief have violated the right to privacy, freedom of conscience and religion of Chief (Dr.) Dennis Brutus Otuaro from protecting his thought, conscience or religious beliefs, exposed him to cohesive and unjustified intrusion and/or invasion of his private life.

"That the constant harassment, intimidation, cyber staking/bullying, malicious and unwarranted allegations against the person of Chief (Dr.) Dennis Brutus Otuaro has violated his right to equal protection of the law, respect for his life and the integrity of his person as well as the respect and the dignity of his person and his legitimate interest to live in unity and harmony with others in the society.

"That the Respondent acts of cyber bullying, cyber stalking as well as the malicious accusations/allegations of being corrupt, terrorism financing, human trafficking illegal arrest, human slavery and extra-judicial killings of innocent citizens have put Chief (Dr.) Dennis Brutus Otuaro in dehumanizing conditions and thereby put his towering status in disrepute.

"That in each of the videos posted by the Respondent against Chief (Dr.) Dennis Brutus Otuaro, hundreds of followers commented on the videos, while thousands of people watched the videos.

"That the Respondent is trying to instigate the general public, especially the Presidential Amnesty beneficiaries against Chief (Dr.) Dennis Brutus Otuaro and thereby put his life in danger."

Consequently, the human rights group is praying the court for the following reliefs:

"DECLARATION that the constant cyber bullying, cyber stalking as well as the malicious accusations/allegations of being corrupt, terrorism financing, human trafficking, illegal arrest, human slavery and extra-judicial killings of innocent citizens by the Respondent on his facebook page against the person of Chief (Dr.) Dennis Brutus Otuaro have violated his right to life, dignity and respect for his person, right to privacy as well as his right to be respected and the integrity of his person pursuant to section 24(c), 33, 34, and 37 of the 1999 Constitution (As Amended) and Articles 3, 4, 5, 6, 27 and 28 of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act.

"A DECLARATION that the constant harassments and intimidations; cyber stalking as well as the malicious accusations/allegations of being corrupt, terrorism financing, human trafficking, illegal arrest, human slavery and extra-judicial killings of innocent citizens by the Respondent on his facebook page against the person of Chief (Dr.) Dennis Brutus Otuaro have exposed his life to danger, ridiculing his person before the society and exposed him and his family to public opprobrium and thereby violated his inviolable rights to life, dignity of human person, respect and integrity of his person as well as the privacy of his family life contrary to the provisions of sections 24(c), 33, 34 and 37 of the 1999 Constitution as amended and Articles 3, 4, 5, 6, 27 and 28 of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights (Rectification and Enforcement) Act.

"A DECLARATION that insulting and ridiculing the traditional belief of Chief (Dr.) Dennis Brutus Otuaro by the Respondent on his facebook page has lowered his reputation and degraded his religious belief and thereby violated his inviolable rights to privacy of his family life, freedom of thought, conscience and religious contrary to the provisions of sections 37 and 38 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and Article 8 of the African charter on Human and People’s Rights (Rectification and Enforcement) Act.

"AN ORDER OF PERPETUAL INJUNCTION restraining the Respondent, his assigns, privies or anybody acting on his authority or in trust for him from further harassing or intimidating Chief (Dr.) Dennis Brutus Otuaro through the Respondent’s facebook account or any medium of information.

"AN ORDER OF PERPETUAL INJUNCTION restraining the Respondent, his assigns, privies or anybody acting on this authority or in trust for him from recoding voice notes and/or audio-visual recording and publish same in any medium of information against the person of Chief (Dr.) Dennis Brutus Otuaro.

"AN ORDER OF COURT compelling the Respondent to pay to the Applicant the sum of Five Hundred Million Naira (N500,000,000) as general and exemplary damages for the violation of the rights of Chief (Dr.) Dennis Brutus Otuaro.

"AND FOR ANY OTHER ORDER OR FURTHER ORDER as this Honorable Court may deem fit to make in the circumstances."

However, as at the time of publication of this report, no date has been fixed for the hearing of the case which is filed at the High Court of Delta State, sitting at the Warri Judicial Division. 

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