Court Grants Substituted Service In Explosive ₦500 Million Lawsuit Against Nigerian Army

A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered substituted service in a fundamental rights abuse lawsuit against the Nigerian Army and seven others, directing that court documents be published in a national newspaper.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Presiding over the case, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik granted the order following an ex-parte application filed by the plaintiff’s counsel, Ambrose Akhigbe, an Assistant Director at Command Secondary School, Ipaja, Lagos.

The judge noted that since the Nigerian Army officials were not employees of the Federal High Court, they were unlikely to receive documents served on the court’s notice board. Instead, she mandated their publication in widely circulated newspapers.

The case was adjourned to May 5, 2025, with a directive that hearing notices be served on all respondents.

Allegations Against the Nigerian Army

The plaintiff has accused the Nigerian Army, the Chief of Army Staff, senior officers of the 81 Division, and four soldiers—Lieutenant Akabor, Private Sani, Private Ahmed, and Private Montero—of assault, battery, maltreatment, and threats to his life.

According to the plaintiff, he was brutally beaten by Private Sani, Private Ahmed, and Private Montero on the orders of Lieutenant Akabor, allegedly as punishment for filming SSS3 female students being subjected to inhumane treatment—forced to roll in muddy water.

Recalling the attack, he stated:

“The 5th respondent suggested we report to the commandant’s office. While walking to the Admin Block, the 6th, 7th, and 8th respondents ambushed me from behind, attempting to kill me, repeatedly saying, ‘We will kill you today, you bastard,’ while assaulting me with planks, koboko, sticks, pipe canes, irons, and fists.”

Evidence and Injuries

The plaintiff submitted video evidence of the assault, revealing that the attack led to excessive bleeding from his skull and triggered an uproar, disrupting academic activities as civilian staff staged a protest in solidarity.

He further claimed that the Commandant (4th respondent) took responsibility for his medical expenses, covering ₦65,000 initially and an additional ₦115,000, while also detaining the implicated officers pending an investigation.

Now, through his lawyer, the plaintiff is demanding ₦500 million in damages for the violation of his fundamental rights and an additional ₦50 million to cover legal expenses.