The Managing Director, Cross River State Water Board Limited, Godwin Nyiam, has dragged the state’s Security Adviser, Major General Okoi Obono(retd), to court over alleged assault.
Nyiam’s lawyer, E. E. Osim disclosed this on Sunday in Calabar, saying his client, demands the sum of N500m compensation from Obono for slapping him in public.
The incident reportedly occurred at the Fogg Petrol Station in Calabar in April.
The legal practitioner stated that his client decided to drag the security adviser to court to put an end to any further unruly behaviour, stressing that a singular act caused his client pain, intimidation, harassment, and emotional distress because of the way he was publicly humiliated.
The petition averred that the slap by the state security adviser demoralised his client and made him embarrassed after Obono allegedly ordered uniform men under his command to assault, intimidate, and harass him at Fogg Petrol station at Federal Housing Estate, Calabar on May 24, 2025.
A petition from The Advocates Chambers addressed to The Brigade Commander, 13 Amphibious Brigade Headquarters Calabar, demanded N500m compensation from Obono, and an apology letter to be published in two national newspapers for infringement on his fundamental human rights.
The petition signed by E.E. Osim & Co and two other lawyers from the Lord Advocate, with Our Ref: TAC/ADM/001/Vol. 1/2024 dated April 24, 2025, warned that failure to tender an apology to their client would risk litigation.
The petition asked the brigade commander to use his good office to fish out the officers allegedly ordered by Obono to harass the MD of Cross River State Waterboard Limited.
“Heretofore, write to you to use your good offices to fish out those attached to the said General under reference on the aforementioned date to treat our client and offer due apology in two national dailies for compensation.” The petition stated.
But in a swift reaction to the issue, in a text message sent to the security adviser by our correspondent, in reply to the text message, the security adviser denied ordering his men to beat Nyam.
“On what grounds will I do that, please?” Obono questioned.
Effort to speak with the Army’s Public Relations Officer, Capt. Jimoh Jamila failed as text messages and calls put across to her were never returned or replied.
