An On-air-Personality (OAP) working with Correct 97.3 FM Calabar, Cross River State, Mr. Victor Oton aka Godpikin, has threatened to take legal action against the Nigerian Army for being physically brutalised while covering a protest in the state.
Recall earlier reported that Oton, also known as Radio Governor on Correct 97.3 FM Calabar, was being physically assaulted by the men of the Nigerian Army from the Amphibious Training School (ATS) for covering a local government pensioners protest along Murtala Mohammed Highway by Flour Mills, Calabar on Monday, November 2, 2020.
Godpikin was beaten by a group of Soldiers sent to halt the protest, leaving him with wounds and bloodshot in his eyes.
On that note, the OAP has asked for an open written apology from the Nigerian Army through his lawyer, James Ibor, Esq. of Basic Rights Lawyers Partners.
In a letter titled “Physical Assault, Inhuman And Degrading Treatment Of Victor Oton While Covering Peaceful Protest By Pensioners In Calabar By Officers Of The Amphibious Training School, Calabar, Cross River State” and addressed to the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai, on Thursday, November 12, 2020 and made available to PARADISE NEWS, Victor’s Principal Council gave the Army two weeks apologise else the matter will be taken to court.
The letter which also copied the Administrator, Amphibious Training School, Calabar and the Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Olonisakin, Defence Headquarters, Abuja, reads:
“We are solicitors to VICTOR OTON (aka Victor GodPikin) who shall herein after be referred to as our client. It is on his instructions and on his behalf that we write.
“Our client is a journalist working with Correct FM, Nigeria. On Monday the 2nd day of November 2020, our client was on duty covering a protest by pensioners in Calabar when officers from the Amphibious Training School, Nigerian Army showed up and started seizing peoples’ phone. Our client presented an ID card and identified himself as a journalist on duty but before he could finish talking, he was brutally attacked and beaten by the soldiers for not surrendering his phone immediately.
“Due to the wide reportage the incident attracted in several media platforms the Administrator of the Amphibious Training School, Brig. Gen. J. Y Nimyel was constrained to invite our client for a conciliatory meeting the next day. At the meeting we demanded for an open written apology to our client and for the soldiers involved in beating our client to be disciplined. Sadly however, the Administrator merely expressed regret and apologies to our client for being battered by his officers.
“We urge you sir, to immediately and within two weeks investigate this act of incivility, cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment of our client.
“Take notice that in the event that our demands are ignored, we shall seek legal redress”.
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