A journalist, Desmond Utomwen (FRESHNEWS),who was allegedly brutalised by the police and the Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) while on official assignment, has finally been given a hearing at the court of appeal on Tuesday.
Utomwen claims he was assaulted on December 2009, eleven years ago, while carrying out his duties in Abuja. He was arrested and locked in the Garki police station.
The journalist said he challenged the treatment at the court to enforce his fundamental human rights of freedom of speech. The case was finalised three years later, with the court giving a judgement of N100 million paid as damages in favour of Utomwen.
However, it was appealed against by the other parties for another seven years.
The court would finally give a hearing for the case on September 22, 2020.
Utomwen calls for other journalists to turn up to support him as he seeks justice, while also stating that the case be a deterrent to police brutality on journalists.
Read the press release below:
Dear colleagues,
Eleven years ago (December, 2009), I, Desmond Utomwen (then staff of TheNEWS Magazine) was brutalized while on official assignment by men of the Nigerian Police Force and Staff of Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB), arrested and locked up at the Garki Police Station.
I challenged this at the Court in a bid to enforce my fundamental human rights. Three years after (October 2013), we secured a judgement against them in which the Court awarded damages of N100million in our favour.
They appealed the judgement and employed all legal antics to frustrate the process.
For another SEVEN YEARS, we endured the pains of trying to secure a date for hearing at the Court of Appeal.
I’m however glad to inform you that the court has finally given us a date; tomorrow, 22nd Sept, 2020 for the hearing.
We’ll appreciate your kind presence and coverage as we seek to use this opportunity to raise our voices against brutality of JOURNALISTS in the line of duty.
Thank you.
Desmond Utomwen, FreshNEWS
