The Federal High Court in Abuja has reserved ruling in a fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by Ambrose Akhigbe against the Nigerian Army and nine others.

The plaintiff is a Deputy Director at Command Secondary School, Ipaja, Lagos. The case, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2138/25, came up for hearing on January 15 before Justice James Omotosho.

Counsel for the first to eighth respondents, Chris Edache Agbiti, moved a motion for an extension of time, which was earlier filed on behalf of his clients, and the court granted it.

Counsel to the applicant, Wayne Chikezie Elijah, urged the court to dismiss the Notice of Preliminary Objection filed by the first to eighth defendants, discountenance all counter-affidavits opposing the originating motion, and grant all the reliefs sought by the applicant.

Justice Omotosho adjourned the case to March 3, 2026, for ruling or judgment.

The plaintiff, while an Assistant Director, sued the Army, COAS, General Officer Commanding 81 Division; the Commandant of Command Day Secondary School, Lagos; Lieutenant Akabor, Private Sani, Private Ahmed and Private Montero over alleged threat to life, assault, battering and maltreatment.

Akhigbe alleged that the respondents, particularly the fifth, sixth, and seventh, nearly killed him for making videos of the inhumane punishment meted out to a female pupil in SSS-3 who was asked to roll in muddy water.

He said while they were on their way to the Commandant’s office to resolve the issue, “the sixth, seventh and eighth respondents, acting on the instructions of the fifth respondent, battered me from behind with the sole aim of killing me”.

“They were saying ‘We will kill you today, you bastard’ as they continued to assault me, targeting my face and neck using plank, koboko, sticks, pipe canes, irons and their fist,” the plaintiff said. He attached video evidence of the attack.

Akhigbe said the assault resulted in a ceaseless flow of blood from his skull, while academic activities were halted due to a protest by staff members in solidarity.

He said the Commandant, who handed over Akabor, Sani, Ahmed and Montero to the military police for investigation, paid N65,000 and N115,000 for his medical bills.

“Shortly after the incident, my union, Association of Senior Servants Civil of Nigeria, served the respondents with a letter of demand for adequate compensation for me,” he said.

Source; The Nation News