Ex-Lawmaker, Joseph Kigbu
Two medical doctors, Akolo Namo and Polycarp Danjuma, have dragged a former House of Representatives member, Dr. Joseph Kigbu, and four others before the Nasarawa State High Court, for alleged violation of rights.
As stated by reports, the plaintiffs were seeking the enforcement of their fundamental rights following alleged illegal arrest and detention at the instance of Kigbu.
Also joined in the suits were Dotma/ZK Health Konsult Ltd, Musa Magaji, Ovye and the Commissioner of Police, Bauchi State Command.
Counsel for the plaintiffs, Affiz Adigun, explained that his clients who were engaged on March 2, 2018, by Kigbu and his company to work on a World Bank project in Bauchi state for three years had not been paid for their services.
As stated by the lawyer, Kigbu’s company secured $7m (over N2.5bn) World Bank contract using the plaintiffs’ certificates as required by the World Bank.
He said instead of paying them for the period they worked, Kigbu accused them of stealing furniture that was not provided in the office.
Adigun said the plaintiffs were eventually arrested in Lafia, Nasarawa State on July 6, and detained for four days at the Bauchi State Police Command where they were compelled to write an undertaking to pay the sum of N450,000 to Kigbu.
They, therefore, prayed the court to award them N50m damages for their illegal arrest, unlawful detention and abuse of fundamental rights.
The plaintiffs also asked the court to declare null and void the undertaking to pay N450,000 to Kigbu as well as to restrain the police from further arresting and detaining them illegally.
Justice Simon Aboki, a vacation judge, adjourned the matter till September 6, for hearing to enable all the respondents to be properly served.