A High Court in Port Harcourt has ordered the Federal Government to pay N37.6bn as compensation to victims of the military invasion of Odi community in Bayelsa State.

The court ordered that a special damage of N17.6bn and a general damage of N20bn be paid to the community as compensation.

It also issued a permanent injunction restraining the respondents and their agents from attacking Odi again.

Soldiers had on November 20, 1999, invaded Odi community after 12 policemen were killed by a group of militants within the area.

But the people of the area in Bayelsa State had dragged the Federal Government to court, demanding N20bn as damages for gross violation of the their rights.

Ruling on the matter on Tuesday in a class suit No.FHC/PH/CP/11/2000 filed by Professor Kobina Keme-Ebi Imananagha, Chief Ndu Gwagha, Chief Shadrack Agadah, Mr. Idoni Ingezi and Mr. Nwaka Echomgbe, the presiding judge, Justice Lambo Akambi, also ordered that the payment be made within the next 21 days.

Akanbi described the attack on the people of Odi as genocidal, reckless, brutish and a gross violation of the rights of the victims to life and to ownership property.

Counsel for the plaintiffs, Lucius Nwosu (SAN), Lawal Rabana (SAN) and Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN), prayed the court to affirm that the invasion of Odi by soldiers and the attack on innocent indigenes of the community was a gross violation of the people’s fundamental human rights to life, dignity and personal liberty.

The counsel for the Minister of Defence and a director in the ministry, Mallam Jimoh Adamu, had earlier told the court that he had filed new application seeking for an extension of time, arguing that his principal was not served any of the court processes.

The presiding judge, however, dismissed the application, after going through the courts records and found out that the Attorney General of the Federation was served the court processes.

Justice Akanbi described the claim by counsel for President Goodluck Jonathan that troops were deployed in Odi in November 20, 1999 to flush out secessionist militants who had killed seven policemen as false.

According to him, such a claim contravenes the President’s recent statement on Nigerian Television Authority that no militant was killed in Odi during the military incursion, but innocent indigenes of the community.

Justice Akanbi pointed out that Jonathan’s declaration on the matter was an acknowledgement of the enthronement of the rule of law as opposed to the enthronement of guns.

According to him, the president’s statement is a proof to the international community that Nigeria is now governed by those who respect the law.

Describing the destruction of Odi as comprehensive and total, Akanbi noted that nothing was spared by the marauding soldiers.

He added that the Federal Government brazenly violated the fundamental human rights of the victims to movement, life and to own property and live peacefully in their ancestral home.

Nwosu, who is the lead counsel for the plaintiffs, hailed the judge for his courage towards putting an end to executive recklessness in the society.

Also, the counsel for the President and Chief of Defense Staff, Akolika Awa Esq, commended the stance of the presiding judge despite the outcome of the case.

http://www.punchng.com/news/fg-to-pay-n37bn-compensation-for-odis-invasion/

Good

They should take it from OBJs pockets!

Keep dreaming.

seanet01: Keep dreaming.

You see wetin your baboon brother Obj cause?

Those community leaders don hammer. That's why GEJ as a president should just be careful when he talks. He talks too much and anything that he says carries weight. His attack on OBJ now has been used as a confirmation and great evidence that the judge used. At any rate, I totally supports this judgement only if the money will be judiciously used to develop the community but me I can't vouch that will happen.

That how Boko haram will be compensated some day for killing innocent Nigerians. Our system is a failed one.

Adejoro74:

You see wetin your baboon brother Obj cause?

It was caused by the Odi people. How can you killed security men and hang their heads?
They partially got what they deserve.

Omo these people don hammer o that's if someone doesn't embezzle the money

Jaidey-one:
Omo these people don hammer o that's if someone doesn't embezzle the money

Hammer wetin?
Even Commandclem that won at Appeal court against a corporate organization never collect money for over ten years.
FG is never going to pay this money.
It is called Fallacy.

People commit crimes against the state but when the state reacts aggressively,they cry of genocide.This is exactly the same way militants and oil thievies vandalise pipelines and blame it on the companies;crying for compensation.

Let's just hope boko haram will not wake up one day only to drag the FG to court demanding for compensation.

I dont know why OBJ has not been imprisoned.Now,its is legally proven that OBJ is a murderer.i thought some silly people here claimed that OBJ did the right thing and even went to the extent of advocating such atrocities against North.GEJ remain the best Nigeria leader for now.

Sealeddeal: I dont know why OBJ has not been imprisoned.Now,its is legally proven that OBJ is a murderer.i thought some silly people here claimed that OBJ did the right thing and even went to the extent of advocating such atrocities against North.GEJ remain the best Nigeria leader for now.

I still don't know why you guys believe government should dialogue with criminals.Since the amnesty in Niger delta,has there been total peace in the region ? Nope

seanet01: It was caused by the Odi people. How can you killed security men and hang their heads?
They partially got what they deserve.

Foooo()l,... Why dint the secuirity men go after the individuals that commited the crime..? The fact that a crime is commited in a community does not imply the everybody living in that town is guilty.. OBJ was seeking a cowards glory by using the military to destroy, kill, burn and raping women to achieve "quick results" in the process hurting innocents he swore to protect.........without arrestin or killin those that commited the evil.. Na thunder go fire that ur empty skull wey u take talk say Odi people deserve such treatment from their president....

~Bluetooth:


I still don't know why you guys believe government should dialogue with criminals.Since the amnesty in Niger delta,has there been total peace in the region ? Nope

The usaul Bluetooth stupidy.... U are indeed a retardeen and clueless bastarrrd... How is OBJ genocide related amnesty?

~Bluetooth:


I still don't know why you guys believe government should dialogue with criminals.Since the amnesty in Niger delta,has there been total peace in the region ? Nope

we are talking about war crime here.there are many ways to deal with insurgents without killing and destroying a whole village.

tarryT: Foooo()l,... Why dint the secuirity men go after the individuals that commited the crime..? The fact that a crime is commited in a community does not imply the everybody living in that town is guilty.. OBJ was seeking a cowards glory by using the military to destroy, kill, burn and raping women to achieve "quick results" in the process hurting innocents he swore to protect.........without arrestin or killin those that commited the evil.. Na thunder go fire that ur empty skull wey u take talk say Odi people deserve such treatment from their president....

Ediot.
You are spewing gibberish. Ode buruku

seanet01: Keep dreaming.

you disgust me

liberty300: you disgust me

You irritate me.

The only consolation for Odi will be that ugly gorilla hounded by the ICC and chained hands and legs inside Kirikiri. *Opa so njo* the synonym of ugly

Nice compensating the Odi town people. But there should be proper monitoring of the payment cos the part 2 (which may be greater) of the destruction may arise during the sharing formula of the payment.
This is nigeria where we value money than any life.

toothpaste: The only consolation for Odi will be that ugly gorilla hounded by the ICC and chained hands and legs inside Kirikiri. *Opa so njo* the synonym of ugly

I quoted you to correct your signature, pls is ACN + CPC equal to failure

How much will the slain security men get?

ho nairalanders...i no u people will start abusing ur self for wat does not affect u guys.... some of u dont no when dis happen

Someone is already waiting by the side to siphoned the money immediately it is released. Some people will die b4 the money is released as they will start killing themselves. Na 9ija we dey.

Not like am supporting the FG's jungle justice method, but my question is:
What about the families of the slain officer? knowing fully well that govt does not take care of slain officers families, how much compensation is govt going to pay to the officers families?

PROUD-IGBO:
They should take it from OBJs pockets!

gbam

How much is going to "ZAKI IBIAM"?

What of pple of Zaki Biam in Benue state? Honestly, OBJ should be in Hague now. That randy old bastard is a disgrace to humanity.

tarryT: Foooo()l,... Why dint the secuirity men go after the individuals that commited the crime..? The fact that a crime is commited in a community does not imply the everybody living in that town is guilty.. OBJ was seeking a cowards glory by using the military to destroy, kill, burn and raping women to achieve "quick results" in the process hurting innocents he swore to protect.........without arrestin or killin those that commited the evil.. Na thunder go fire that ur empty skull wey u take talk say Odi people deserve such treatment from their president....

tarryT: Foooo()l,... Why dint the secuirity men go after the individuals that commited the crime..? The fact that a crime is commited in a community does not imply the everybody living in that town is guilty.. OBJ was seeking a cowards glory by using the military to destroy, kill, burn and raping women to achieve "quick results" in the process hurting innocents he swore to protect.........without arrestin or killin those that commited the evil.. Na thunder go fire that ur empty skull wey u take talk say Odi people deserve such treatment from their president....

tarryT: Foooo()l,... Why dint the secuirity men go after the individuals that commited the crime..? The fact that a crime is commited in a community does not imply the everybody living in that town is guilty.. OBJ was seeking a cowards glory by using the military to destroy, kill, burn and raping women to achieve "quick results" in the process hurting innocents he swore to protect.........without arrestin or killin those that commited the evil.. Na thunder go fire that ur empty skull wey u take talk say Odi people deserve such treatment from their president....

WORD!!