An Assistant Director and Head of the Foreign Languages Department at the Ministry of Defence, Ambrose Akhigbe, has filed a lawsuit against the Nigerian Army and the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, over an alleged assault by soldiers.

The suit, filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja, also lists the General Officer Commanding 81 Division, the Commandant of Command Secondary School, Lagos, Lt. Akubor, as well as Privates Sani, Ahmed, and Montero as the third to eighth respondents.

A video of the alleged assault on Akhigbe, a Level 15 civilian staff member, went viral on June 10, 2024, sparking outrage. In response, members of the Joint Executive Council of the Ministry of Defence staged a protest, shutting down the ministry’s headquarters in Abuja to condemn what they described as a growing pattern of military brutality against civilian staff.

Following the incident, the late Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, ordered an investigation into the allegations and the events at Command Secondary School, Ipaja, Lagos. However, the council’s president, Didam Joel, expressed disappointment that no concrete action had been taken.

Joel stated that no panel was set up after the declaration, and neither he nor other leaders at the state level were aware of any investigation. He added that while the assistant director’s case had gone to court, instances of mistreatment by soldiers continued.

In the suit FHC/ABJ/CS/1787/2024, Akhigbe claims that the actions of the fifth to eighth respondents amounted to an attempt on his life after they allegedly unlawfully seized and searched his phone.

He argues that this constituted a gross violation of his fundamental rights, including his right to life.

He is demanding N500m in damages for the violation of his fundamental rights and N50m in litigation costs.

At the court session on Wednesday, the claimant’s lawyer, Wayne Elijah, informed the court that the Nigerian Army and the Chief of Army Staff had yet to be served the court documents.

He urged the court to grant substituted service via email.

Justice J. Abdulmalik, in his ruling, ordered that the court processes and hearing notice be published in a national newspaper.

The case was adjourned to May 5 for the commencement of the hearing.