Effurun Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has accused the Nigerian Army, 3 Battalion, Barracks Effurun, in Delta State of gross violation of the fundamental rights of Dr Raphael Onyemekehia.
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Dr Raphael Onyemekehia is said to be a neurosurgeon with the hospital, Mount Horeb Clinic & Dialysis Centre, Effurun, Delta.
According to the statement signed by the branch Chairman, Jonathan Ekperusi, Esq., made available to TheNigeriaLawyer(TNL), “Reports reaching us from the leadership of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) Warri revealed that Dr. Raphael Onyemekehia was returning from work when he was accosted by overzealous Nigerian Army personnel who claimed to be enforcing the curfew imposed by the Delta State Government.
“We are informed that despite introducing himself as a Medical Doctor and showing his identity (ID) card to the Soldiers, they thoroughly humiliated and tortured Dr. Raphael Onyemekehia by forcing him to swim in the gutter for about 30 minutes at gunpoint and flogging him whilst he was complying with the inhuman, dehumanizing, degrading and tortuous punishment.
Reacting to this ugly incident, the chairman, Ekperusi, Esq., noted that the branch is not only condemning such bastardize act but is demanding compensation and apology from the Nigerian Army.
“The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Effurun Branch condemns in the strongest terms, the torture and dehumanizing treatment meted out on Dr. Raphael Onyemekehia, a Consultant Nephrologist and Proprietor of Mount Horeb Clinic & Dialysis Centre, Effurun by the Army.
“At a time when the nation is trying to recover from the sad incidence involving the Army and the #EndSARS Protesters at Lekki Toll Gate, Lagos, we find the gross violation of the fundamental rights of Dr. Raphael Onyemekehia insensitive and callous.
“The conduct of the Soldiers grossly violates the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution, the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act, the Anti-Torture Act and other applicable instruments.
“We believe that the Soldiers knew or ought reasonably to have known that Dr. Raphael Onyemekehia, as a Medical Doctor, is an essential services personnel, exempted from the curfew restrictions.
Consequently, the branch, therefore, demands immediate apology and payment of adequate compensation to Dr. Raphael Onyemekehia by the Nigerian Army.
“We further demand that the perpetrators of the dastardly act by immediately fished out and appropriate disciplinary measures enforced against them.
“Should the Nigerian Army fail, refuse and/or neglect to comply with these demands, the Human Rights Committee of the NBA Effurun Branch shall commence legal proceedings against the Army to remediate the said injustices.”
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