Davidson Iriekpen
30 November 2008
Lagos — A private security aide attached to Governor Gbenga Daniel of Ogun State, Mr. Daniel Bamidele Oladimeji, has dragged Senator Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello before a Federal High Court in Ibadan for violating his fundamental human rights.
Oladimeji, in his affidavit filed on his behalf by his counsel, Mr. Bamidele Aturu, said on November 15, 2008, in the course of his duties, he was with the governor at a church service at the First Baptist Church, Ogbomoso when the respondent came in and sat behind the governor.
He averred that suddenly to his surprise, the respondent stood up and commenced a solo dance and in the process was deliberately using her elbow to hit the governor at the back of his head, adding that as a security aide whose duty it was to protect the governor, he respectfully approached her and informed her that her elbow was hitting the governor.
He stated that to his surprise and others present, the respondent spontaneously reacted by giving him three successive blows with her hands, thereby degrading and humiliating him.
He is therefore asking the court to declare the action of the respondent unconstitutional, unlawful, illegal, null and void.
Oladimeji argued that the assault and intentional beating he suffered in the hands of the senator was callous, inhuman, degrading and constitute a gross violation of his right to human dignity as guaranteed under Section 34 of the 1999 Constitution as well as Article 5 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights Act Cap 9 Laws of the Federation 2004.
He is also asking the court to compel the respondent to tender a public apology to him in at least three national newspapers.
The applicant further prayed the court to award him N10million as general, special, aggravated, exemplary and punitive damages against the respondent.
The applicant added that since because of the respondent's status and the fact that she moves around with security details, would make it impossible to serve on her personally the motion on notice and all other subsequent processes, the court should grant him an order to serve her the processes through the newspapers.
According to him, granting his requests would serve as a deterrent to the respondent who because of her position, believes she is at liberty to treat fellow human beings and citizens of the country in such a callous and degrading manner.
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