By: Duncan Odey, FCT Abuja
In a judgment certified on 26th June 2025 and exclusively obtained by this reporter, Hon. Justice Binta Mohammed of the High Court of the Federal Capital dismissed a fundamental rights suit filed by one Lady Chinyere Lilian Amuchinwa on 4th May 2022 against six parties, including notably His Excellency, Ikedi Ohakim (former Governor of Imo State) and the Inspector-General of Police.
The suit stemmed from Lady Amechinwa’s claims that Dr Ikedi Ohakim and another party instigated the police to detain her at the Force Headquarters in Abuja in July 2021 over what was not stated in the suit. But it will be recalled that the claim is not unconnected with public accusations made at the time by Lady Amuchinwa against Dr Ohakim which were later found to be unsubstantiated and Dr Ohakim was exonerated.
In their reply to the suit, Dr Ohakim, the IGP and the others challenged the suit as devoid of cause of action and an abuse of the process of the court, the suit having been filed after other similar suits were being pursued elsewhere by Lady Amuchinwa against Dr Ohakim. These suits included a fundamental rights suit in Imo High Court Owerri, an appeal at Owerri Division of court of appeal court and charges filed at Federal High Court, Abuja, all of which the court noted were either dismissed or struck out against Lady Amuchinwa.
In the full judgment which is attached to this report, Hon. Justice Mohammed held that “From the unchallenged and uncontroverted evidence in this suit, it is established that the Applicant/Respondent, has commenced a multiplicity of action involving the same set of fact and the same persons therefore constituting an abuse of the judicial process. Therefore this issue is resolved in favour of the 1st 3rd and 4th Applicant/respondent as well as the 5th Respondents/Applicants.”
“In conclusion the preliminary objection of the 1st 3rd 4th and 5th Respondents/Applicant succeeded accordingly, the suit filed by the Applicant/Respondent for Enforcement of Fundamental Right on 4/5/22 is hereby dismissed. The Applicant has failed to establish a cause of action against the 6th Respondent as nothing remotely connects him to the suit of the Applicant, his name is accordingly struck out from the suit.”
“There will no need to consider and determine the Applicant suit the preliminary objections to the suit having succeeded and the suit dismissed.”
