Charles Okah, suspected to be the criminal mastermind behind the 2010 Independence Day bombings has on behalf of all inmates of the Kuje Maximum Security Prison sued the Federal Government of Nigeria for violating the right of the inmates.
In the suit filed on February 15 by the inmate’s counsel, Timipa Okponipere, Okah is requesting the court to order the Federal government to pay the sum of N350 million in damages for the violation of his fundamental rights.
The suit with number FHC/ABJ/CS/118/2016 filed barely a week before the judge in charge of his case Justice Gabriel Kolawole of the Abuja High Court halted his trial based on his health issues, has the Federal Ministry of Interior and the Nigerian Prison Service as respondents.
Okah in the suit is also seeking the court to rule that the failure of the Federal Ministry of Interior and the Nigerian Prison Services to respond to letter by the inmates is a breach of their fundamental rights, adding that his detention in solitary confinement in the absence of charges and valid court orders are both breaches to his fundamental rights.
Among other reliefs sought by Okah include: declaration that the refusal of the respondents to return the intellectual property seized from him without compensation is a breach of his fundamental right; declaration that the refusal of the respondents to allow for conjugal visits to the prison breached the fundamental right of both convicted and awaiting trial inmates; and declaration that the failure of the prison authorities to allow him access the welfare office at the prison to make calls to his family abroad violates his fundamental rights.