COURT RESTRAINS JTF, SSS FROM HARASSING ACTIVISTS

The Federal High Court sitting in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State l, has ordered the Joint Task Force (JTF), a special security outfit, and the State Securityn Service (SSS) to stop violating the fundamental human rights of Nengi James, a community and public accountability activist.

James had gone to the court, praying it to shield him from alleged acts of impunity by security agents. The court also ruled that Victor Eziogu, an Army Colonel, should be restrained from harassing, intimidating and arresting the Niger Delta activist.

The court ordered the SSS, JTF and Eziogu not to infringed on his fundamental human rights any longer.
James had sought the court's intervention to stop the defendants from inviting him or questions and holding him over an alleged illicit oil business by the some principal officers of JTF in the region which he caused to be published in the newspapers.

Ruling on the matter, Justice R. M. Aikawa of the Federal High Court Yenagoa restrained the security agents from further invitation, interrogations and arrest of the Mr. Nengi James.

James had accused the SSS, JTF and Eziogu of involving in illegal oil deal in the region, adding that the said commanders had acquired a dredging machine in Brass River.

He equally called on defense Headquarter and other relevant agencies to investigate the allegation level against on the officers but, the security operatives invited the activist for defense of his claims to their office, which the activists declined and went into hiding for the fairs of possible arrest and detention.

Several phone calls were put through by the security operatives inviting Mr. James for defense on the allegation.

Counsel to petitioner, Makbere Osom Jacob, on Wednesday expressed delight on the judgment and lauded the judiciary for its intelligent and maturity in handling the matter before it.

Speaking to BOF shortly after the ruling, the plaintiff a former acting president of IYC lauded the judiciary for upholding justices in the country, described the judiciary as the last hope of the common man.

He claimed that he went to court to seek for legal protection because the security operatives had in the past tortured detained and arrested him in Port Harcourt and Abuja for similar matter, adding that during the days of his hiding, his fundamental Rights were violated as his freedom of movement; associations and fair hearing were infringed.