By Gabriel Enogholase

BENIN—No fewer than five staff of Erhengbo Okomo Security Services Nigeria Limited, Benin, Edo State, have dragged the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase, the Edo State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Samuel Adegbuyi and a Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mr. Chris Ezike of the Federal Special Ant- Robbery Squad, before a Federal High Court sitting in Benin, for their illegal arrest at their place of work, Oliha Market, Benin and detaining them till date.

The applicants, Seyi Erhengbo, Uwuigbe Ebegho, Abayomi Ajayi, Best Igbinomwanhia and Pletra Omosivbie. In the suit, they are contending that the action of the Police was unlawful, unconstitutional and an infringement on their fundamental rights to personal liberty, dignity to their persons, fair hearing and freedom of movement as guaranteed by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999) as amended.

The applicants, through their counsel, Mr A. O. Osemwegie, are also asking the respondents to jointly and severally pay to them the sum of N20 million for unlawful arrest, detention and torture.

The applicants also want the court to restrain the respondents and their agents from taking any step whatsoever against them and their families and or further dealing with the subject matter of the suit pending its final determination.