Emmanuel Thomas l Thursday, November, 30, 2017
IKEJA, Lagos, Nigeria – Magistrate B. O. Osunsanmi today failed to proceed with the fundamental human rights suit instituted by brutalised Leadership photojournalist, Mr. Ben Uwalaka against Bayo Ogunsola and others who assaulted him in the course of official duty in the premises of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH on August 9, 2012.
The case now four years old, cited as Commissioner of Police VS Bayo Ogunsola has been adjourned to March 15, 2018 for mention. Advancing reason for the failure, the registrar announced that the court could not sit because all the registrars are doing screening.
The case which started in 2012 has not made any meaningful progress since the IPO, Inspector Dolapo of Area F Police Division refused to appear in court severally, after appearing just once.
Ogunsola, a director in the morgue and son of the woman who owns the mogue at LASUTH, and others at large brutalised the journalist on official duty and damaged his camera. Uwalaka had visited LASUTH following the release of the DNA of victims of the Dana Plane crash in Iju, Lagos by LASUTH Pathologist, Professor John Oladapo Obafunwa.
Benedict Uwalaka almost lost his eyes in the process, see photograph. He is appearing as star witness in the suit between Bayo Ogunsanya Vs Commissioner of Police, Lagos State. The man who broke bottle on his head is still at large and has not been arrested since the incident occurred August 9, 2012.
Uwalaka has also filed another suit at a Lagos High Court seeking N30 million in collateral damages for his brutalisation and damage of his professional equipment. Benedict Uwalaka is represented by Mr. Jiti Ogunye, lawyer of the Nigerian Union of Journalist.
Uwalaka told starconnectmedia.com that he is pursuing the case to set a good precedence and to serve as deterrent and protect journalists in the country from official brutalisation adding that money is not the issue.
