By Elvis Tah & Olive Ejang Tebug Ngoh
The State of Cameroon will be answering charges of trespass and false imprisonment at the Fako High Court in Buea as second Defendant in a suit filed by a Nigerian truck pusher, Evarest Agu.
Agu, who is suing Police Commissioner, Henry Nkengasong, with the Provincial Immigration service in Buea, for harassment, illegal arrest and detention, has also sued government being the employer of the defendant and failing to take action.
Agu, resident in Limbe, was born in Cameroon to Nigerian parents. According to the suit No HCF/0170/06-07, the first Defendant is the Commissioner, while the second Defendant is the state of Cameroon.
The immigration police accosted Agu in Limbe, while working and demanded his residence permit. The Plaintiff, Agu, who had a Cameroonian nationality by virtue of birth, had earlier resorted to Nigerian nationality because of constant intimidation from police officers, presented but a receipt of the resident permit since the permit had not yet been established.
On seeing the receipt, one of the police officers reportedly seized it
and put it in his pocket, and menacingly demanded for a bribe of FCFA
10.000 as a condition for him to be freed.
The Post gathered that since Agu hadn't the FCFA 10.000 for the bribe,
he was arrested and taken to Buea where he was locked up, leaving
behind the rented truck and the luggage that he was transporting on the
spot.
In a motion filed by the counsel for the plaintiff, Barrister Blaise Shey Sevidzem Berinyuy of the Taku's Chambers, Buea, the plaintiff demands that the Defendants replace the plaintiff's missing truck.
That an order of injunction restraining the first Defendants and officers of the immigration service from any further arrest and detention of the plaintiff.The Plaintiff wants the Defendants to pay substantial damages for his arrest and detention.
The motion also states that the plaintiff shall at the trial contend
that though a Nigerian, as someone born in the country the second
Defendant is obliged to ensure that her officers and agents treat him
in accordance with certain minimum standard of respect for his
fundamental rights as human being.
Overzealous Police Officers Harass Nigerians
Meanwhile, the President of the Nigerian Union in Kumba, Chief Joseph Ogba Kalu, has disclosed that the harassment and torture of Nigerians in Kumba is perpetrated by overzealous police officers for their selfish aims.
Kalu, who spoke to The Post recently in Kumba at the eve of the end of
his mandate as the Union's President said certain officers harass
Nigerians to extort money for personal interest.
He recounted a recent incident in the Kumba main market where
immigration officers invaded the market and chased Nigerian traders for
resident permits.
Kalu told The Post that, Southwest Governor, Louis Eyeya Zanga, recently, signed a decree forbidding immigration officers from chasing traders in the market. He enjoined Nigerians who are victims of harassment to report to his office. However, the Nigerian Union President revealed that, the rate of police harassment in Kumba has dropped.
He attributed the situation to the visit of their Consul General, Kenneth Nsor, to Kumba, who met with administrative authorities for an understanding. He said the SDO for Meme, Magloire Abath Zangbwala, has also used his powers to calm the situation.
Kalu pleaded with Nigerians in Kumba to be law abiding, restrain from criminal activities and contribute to the entire development of Kumba. Kalu also revealed that since their mandate has expired there's an election commission in place to scrutinize the files of members of Abia, Enugu, Anambra, Akwa-Ibom, Ebonyi, Imo, Cross River and Lagos states who are interested to hold positions in the Union's executive.
Since the position of the President does not rotate, Kalu said that whoever is competent could run, irrespective of the state he hails from. He said he wouldn't contest again so as to give another person the chance to run the Union for the next four years.
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