GUO Transport Coy Driver Sues ACTDA Boss Over Assault
The Driver of GUO transport company who was manhandled by security operatives on the orders of Mr Osita Onuko, Managing Director of Awka Capital Territory Development Authority.
The driver was beaten at Unizik Junction following a driving misunderstanding with the government official on Oct. 20.
Onuko has however apologised to the public, the transport company and the driver for the error in a widely published statement.
“I take full responsibility for all that, and I also apologise to the young man, his company, GUO, and my friends and well-wishers who have been embarrassed by my association with such an act,” he said.
But inspite the apology, the driver and passengers filed separate suits at the Federal High Court, Awka Division and Anambra State High Court Division respectively for the Enforcement of their Fundamental Rights.
The suits were filed by Chief Barth Okafor-Ezedinobi Esq. of Barth Okafor-Onyilo & Co. on behalf of the plaintiffs.
The Suits were marked FHC./AWK/CS/193/2023 and A/MISC, 425/2023 respectively, between the Applicants and Hon. Osita Onuko (MD/CEO ACTDA) & 5 others ( which includes, The Nigerian Police Force, NSCDC, Anambra State Government ,The Hon. A-G. of Anambra State and ACTDA
They were filed on the 25th October, 2023 and 31st October, 2023 respectively,
Orders sought include the declaration of the Courts that their detention, arrest, blockage, threat with guns and assault with machetes and eventual abduction of the driver to an unknown location was illegal and unconstitutional.
“A Courts are a declaration that ACTDA and/or any other creation of the Anambra State Government by whatever names they are called or known have no business to be on Federal roads to operate, enforce any law or discipline any motorist or individuals.
“That the Applicants having been harassed, threatened with guns, assaulted with machetes and detained inside the bus, later to unknown place based on the allegation that the bus driver overtook Onuko’s Toyota Hilux Jeep on a Federal HighWay constitutes a breach of the Applicants’ fundamental human right to dignity, liberty and free movement.
Recall that the management of GUO, in a statement, described the incident as a criminal assault and threatened to pursue justice for its driver through the courts.
“We assure all concerned citizens that we will seek legal redress, to ensure that such acts of inhumane treatment of citizens do not keep occurring,” it said.
