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Three journalists in Akwa Ibom, namely, Dennis Udoma, Tony Nyong and Iniobong Ekponta, have dragged Ekaette Obot, the State Chief Judge and Security Operatives before the Federal High Court sitting in Uyo, over what they describe as “grievous infringement” of their fundamental human rights.
In an application filed on June 5, 2025, the trio sought an order for the enforcement of their rights as guaranteed under the Nigerian Constitution and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
The Suit No: FHC/UY/FHR/74/25 which names the Chief Judge, officers of the Nigeria Police Force, including members of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Unit and the Commissioner of Police, Akwa Ibom State, as Respondents, accuses the Police of unlawfully arresting and detaining them in an attempt to suppress an investigative report into alleged workplace harassment, victimisation and other questions begging for answers from the Akwa Ibom State Judiciary.
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According to the affidavit deposed by the applicants, the incident occurred on March 28, 2025, when they were summoned to the residence of the Commissioner of Police.
Upon arrival, the applicants alleged they were confronted, accused and subsequently arrested for investigating sensitive issues relating to the Judiciary.
They claimed the arrest was carried out without any legal justification or warrant, alleging instigation of the Chief Judge.
“The Respondents acted without lawful basis or reasonable suspicion that we had committed any crime,” as stated in their court documents.
“Their actions were a blatant abuse of power designed to intimidate, silence, and punish us for doing our legitimate job as a journalists”, a statement indicated.
The suit raises critical constitutional questions, including; whether the arrest and detention violated their rights to dignity, personal liberty, and freedom of expression, or whether state institutions were wrongfully deployed to harass and suppress press freedom.
The trio are seeking several declaratory and injunctive reliefs, including; ₦3 billion in exemplary damages, ₦500 million each against the Chief Judge and another ₦500 million against the Police.
Also, perpetual injunction restraining the Respondents from further interference with his rights, and public apologies from all Respondents to be published in ThisDay, The Guardian, or The Punch newspapers.
The Applicants legal team, led by AES Triplex LP, Lagos argues that the Respondents’ actions were not only unlawful but constituted a direct threat to journalistic freedom and the public’s right to information.
“We were last in court in July 18, and the court granted an order to our application for the maintainance of status quo against the State Chief Judge and the Commissioner of Police, restraining them from further harassment, intimidation or arrest of my clients, whether directly or indirectly.
“However, we had served them with the processes of this case on July 29, 2025 but since then till today, October 15, it is only now that, I have come to find out, the solicitor to the State Chief Judge had filed some papers sometimes in September and the Police have not filed anything.
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“Both Respondents asked for an adjournment because , they were not ready, which I vehemently opposed, and then I asked the court for cost but the court said, since the case is coming up for the first time, it would not grant any cost.
“So, I gave them the opportunity to file, and the case has been adjourned to November 11, for further hearing, and we hope by then, everybody would be ready”, the legal team noted.
While describing the matter as a straightforward case involving journalists, Chief Judge and the Police, the legal team stated, “We are here to defend the rights of journalists and by the constitution; journalists have the right to investigate news scopes so as to hold public office holders accountable to the society, as the Fourth Estate of the Realm.
“They have an obligation to report happenings around us or the society; and to hold everybody accountable including government officials and parastatals.
“So, my clients are three journalists who have news scope on the case, which is already public, they were trying to give a balance reportage in order to be objective and fair to all sides, since the name of the State Chief Judge had come up in their investigation of the case or inquiry in the judiciary by making a call to the State Chief Judge to confirm her side of the story, only for her to flare up and then called the Commissioner of police to arrest them.”
The case, presided over by M.A Onyetemu of the Federal High Court 1 , Uyo was adjourned to November 1 for the defence to file their necessary court processes.
