Court fixes Dec.8 for Bayelsa Youth Activist illegal detention suit against Agip, DSS
...Traditional leaders back Bayelsa Youth Activist suit
The Bayelsa State High Court sitting in Yenagoa has fixed December 8th for further hearing and appearance of witnesses in the suit filed by Ijaw Youth Activist, Comrade Collins Trueman Opumie over his alleged arrest and detention in an underground detention facilities in Abuja for 730 days by the Department of State Security (DSS).
The Presiding judge, Justice Ebiyon Duke Charlie at the resumed hearing on Friday in the suit numbered YHC/324/2022 adjourned till December 8th ,2023 to allow for motions and hearing.
Justice Ebiyon Duke Charlie also rejected the attempts by the Counsel to the DSS, George Obiora Esq to move for adjournment through a letter submitted to the Court on the demise of her Mother.
Both the Counsel to the Claiman, Ebipreye Sese Esq and Counsel to the Police, Silas Ebete Esq objected to the request for ajournment through the letter, arguing that the letter eas not filed before the Court and served on all parties to the suit.
The Bayelsa Youth Activists, Comrade Collins Trueman Opumie, had filed a suit against his illegal arrest and detention
with demands for the sum of N9billion in damages.
He is also praying the court to declare that his arrest, torture and subsequent detention without proper food and medical attention and access to family members for two years for false Imprisonment and malicious prosecution.
In his eight prayers before the Court, Opumie sought the order of the court against the defendants jointly and severally “for damages suffered as a result of the false imprisonment for two (2) years under the custody of the DSS (2nd set of defendants) in their prison facilities without bail or arraignment in a court of law at the instance of the Agip (1st set of defendants) false and malicious complaints/reports against him”
“ An injunction restraining the 2nd and 3rd set of defendants from further harassing or attempts to arrest and detain the claimant at the instance of the 1st set of defendants.”
Opumie, who is an indigene of Opuama Community in Southern Ijaw Local Government area of the State and among Niger Delta Youths that embraced the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), in his statement of claims, accused the DSS in Yenagoa of allegedly abducting him at the instance of the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) in a gestapo style, physically and mentally torture him, tie and throw him into the boot of a vehicle and taken to Abuja like a common criminal without the knowledge of his family and access to medical care.
Meanwhile, the Traditional leaders of the Eniwari Community and Ogi-Ama community of Southern Ijaw Local Government Council area of Bayelsa State have declared their support for the legal action against the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) and the Department of State Security (DSS).
Chairman, Traditional Rulers Council of Southern Ijaw and the Amananawei of Enewari community, HRH Job David Dairus, expressed confidence in the ability of the judiciary to expidiate action on the suit and ensure justice is served to the Bayelsa Youth Activists, Comrade Collins Trueman Opumie.
Also the Amananawei of Ogila-Ama Community in Opuama kingdom, HRH Kieri Ben Smith Idomo expressed disatisfaction over the allege oppressive operations of the Oil exploration companies in their domain, alleging that the case of the illegal arrest and detention of the Bayelsa Youth Activists, Comrade Collins Trueman Opumie is one case too many.
According to him, ” this case of illegal arrest eas done in the past. I was part of a team to stood bail for over 13 boys illegally arrested and detained by the Niger Agip company.”
[24/11, 13:54] Osaro: Provide proper mentorship Corps members—Bayelsa SSG urge corps employers
The Secretary to the Bayelsa State Government and Chairman, NYSC State Governing Board, Alabo Gideon Ekeuwei has urged corps employer to provide proper mentorship for corps members deployed to the state.
Alabo Gideon Ekeuwei, made this known on Thursday during the corps employers workshop held at the Secetariat of the Nigerian Union of Journalists(NUJ) for the four zones of Yenagoa, Brass, Southern Ijaw and Sagbama in Bayelsa State.
Alabo Gideon Ekeuwei, who was represented at the event by the Executive Assistant to the Governor on NYSC Matters, Mr Wisdom Poyeri, also called on the Corps employers that despite providing appropriate mentorship and enterprenural training, the Corps members that are not dispose to Rules and regulations should be reported to the handlers of the National Youths Service scheme for appropriate disciplinary actions.
Earlier , the Director NYSC South South Area Office, Alhaji Baba Ladan, while flagging off the Corps employer workshop, said the essence of the workshop was to ensure smooth communication between the scheme and corps employers.
Alhaji Baba Ladan, who was represented by an Assistant Director, Mrs Igechi Stella, in a key note address, charged all participants to deliberate freely to arrive at resolutions that will better the operations of the scheme for mutual benefits.
In her welcome remarks, the State Coordinator, Mrs Okpalifo Obiageli Charity commended management for approving the workshop and thanked the corps employers for their presence.
She stressed that the role of corps employers in harnessing the potentials of corps members through effective utilisation is a sacred task which calls for utmost sense of responsibility.
She also informed that the workshop platform would enable the scheme to brief corps employers about new development and operational procedures of the scheme and chart ways to enable the employers to be abreast with the happenings in the scheme.
She sued for continued cordial relationship that will be beneficial to all.
The Bayelsa Head of Service, was represented by the Director, Establishment and Industrial Relations, Dr Hamilton Ekeke and charged all participants to ensure resolutions arrived at the end of workshop are complied with.
Three papers were presented by Dr. Anderson Nikade, a lecturer with Mass Communication Department, Niger Delta University, Amassoma Bayelsa State with the topic “Integration of cops members with host community for efficient service delivery”, Barr Marshall Abraham, the State Chairman, National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools ( NAPPS), represented by Mr Lawanson Olugbenga presented on the topic: An Ideal corps member – the employers perspective and Mrs Essien Ena Omawumi, Assistant Director, Corps Inspection and Monitoring presented on the topic: Provision of enabling environment as an imperative for optimal performance.
Highlights of the event were the presentation of syndicate reports, adoption of resolutions and presentation of Best Corps Employer of the Year Award to Floral Pearl Vision School, BEBELEBIRI 2 Yenagoa.
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