by Azeez Adeniyi

Ruth Orji, a woman allegedly brutalized by soldiers in Ikorodu area of Lagos has sued the Nigerian Army as well as perpetrators of the purported act.

Orji has claimed she was attacked by soldiers attached to 174 Battalion, Ikorodu, around 8:30pm on Sunday.

Images of her injured and badly bruised back has gone viral on the internet.

Ruth in the suit against the army demanded N250m as damages.

General Counsel of the Joint Legal Action Aids, Kingsley Ughe confirmed that he filed the case on her behalf at a Federal High Court in Lagos.

“We have today filed a legal process at the Federal High Court against the Nigerian Army and her assailants to assert her right and demand for N250m compensation,” he said.

Ughe added that he hopes the case will help stop soldiers’ brutality on civilians.

He said, “We are using her case and that of Ebere Ohakwe to send a message to lawless elements within the military that the days of impunity and degradations of the Nigerian people is over.

“We have a binding precedent in the case of Rosemary Okeke who suffered a similar fate and got justice through the court system.

“We are very confident of the unassailable nature of the cases and the evidence therein, these two cases will change our legal landscape to the extent that the rights of the Nigerian will once again be placed on the front burner and the courts will have opportunity to adjudicate on it.”

Azeez