Leader of Movement for Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, on Wednesday instituted a civil action against the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), Tigerbase, Shell Camp, Owerri, Imo State over what he described as the abuse of his human rights.
In the suit filed at the High Court of Imo State sitting in Owerri, Uwazuruike is seeking a judicial protection of his constitutional rights to liberty and freedom of movement following repeated police invitations linked to a land dispute already pending before a Court.
According to Court documents and filed by his Counsel, M. O. Anyanwu Eşq, under fundamental rights enforcement application, Suit No: HOW/57/2026, Uwazuruike is demanding among other reliefs: That the Honourable Court declare his Police Summon as unlawful, and to restrain any further attempts to arrest or detain him over the same land matter.
He is also demanding the sum of ₦100,000,000 (One hundred million naira) as general damages for the alleged infringement of his constitutional rights.
The Suit listed the İmo State Police Commissioner, Assistant Commissioner of Police, ACP Oladimeji Odeyiwa (Commander Tigerbase Owerri), The Nigeria Police Force, Supol Onyeka and Police Service Commission, as Respondents.
Uwazuruike argued that continued Police involvement in a land matter already before a Court of competent jurisdiction is unconstitutional and a violation of his liberty and freedom of movement.
The legal action is connected to an ongoing land dispute already pending before the High Court in Suit No: HOW/127/2026, currently being handled by Honourable Justice Eke.
Uwazuruike maintained that the matter is already pending before the Court and should proceed strictly through judicial channels.
The Police invitation extended to the MASSOB Leader followed the earlier detention of four individuals associated with the Movement for Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) over the same land matter.
Uwazuruike’s legal team had insisted that law enforcement agencies have no authority to adjudicate over civil land disputes already under judicial consideration unless clearly defined.
In a statement by MASSOB Director of information, Mazi Chris Mocha, Uwazuruike described his decision to seek judicial redress as “lawful, courageous, and worthy of emulation.”
He therefore encouraged citizens who felt that their rights have been infringed to seek redress in Court rather than remain silent.
