Ex-Tremendous Eagles star petitions Military chief, seeks justice after assault by troopers

Former Nigeria worldwide Uche Nwofor is in search of justice after allegedly being assaulted by troopers, Soccernet.ng reviews.

The incident occurred on Might 20, 2024, at Modebe Memorial Major Faculty in Onitsha.

Human rights lawyer Inibehe Effiong has petitioned the Chief of Military Workers, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, over the incident.

Effiong described the assault on Nwofor as “barbaric, absurd, condescending, and embarrassing.” He said that the troopers’ actions had been a blatant violation of Nwofor’s proper to dignity.

Effiong has urged the Military Chief to arrange a disciplinary panel to research the case and punish the troopers concerned. He additionally known as for financial compensation for Nwofor.

The Petition

The petition learn partially, “We act as Solicitors to Mr. Uche Nwofor, an expert footballer and ex-Nigerian Tremendous Eagles Worldwide (hereinafter known as “our Shopper”) and it’s consistent with his directions that we write you this petition. A short profile of our shopper as reported by the Nigeria Skilled Soccer League (NPFL) Updates is herewith connected as “Annexure A” in your perusal.

“Our shopper briefed us and we verily imagine him as follows: On the twentieth day of Might, 2024 at about 5:30 pm, after his day by day soccer coaching together with his membership – ‘All Stars Soccer Membership’ at Modebe Memonal Major Faculty, Onitsha, our shopper along with two of his mates and teammates (Mr. Ozor Philips Ex-Enugu Rangers Worldwide and Mr. Uzoma Charles (based mostly in Turkey) entered the Onitsha Military Barracks of their normal method, to loosen up and see some outdated mates, since they might safely be thought to be ‘barracks boys’ having spent most of their youth in soccer taking part in for the Barracks Soccer Workforce – Vulcans FC Barracks.

“Shortly after our shopper and his mates bought to a restaurant on the Onitsha Barracks, the CO of the barracks whom our shopper instantly acknowledged as Mr. Nandang along with two different troopers, in essentially the most condescending, embarrassing, and intimidating method, ordered our shopper’s buddy Mr. Uzoma Charles to return out from the restaurant and sit on the naked predominant highway.

“Each rationalization of our shopper and Mr. Uzoma Charles to the troopers that they’re footballers whose identities can simply be confirmed by a easy search on Google fell on deaf ears and being conscious of the attainable final result of any resistance, Mr. Uzoma Charles succumbed to their order. His dreadlocks which he has had for a few years had been consequently shaved off with a really unhygienic pair of scissors by CO Nandang and two different troopers.

“Thereafter, they commanded and compelled our shopper to additionally sit on the tarred highway within the public glare. Our shopper initially resisted and tried all he may to clarify who he was to them (a truth our shopper moderately believes to be well-known to them, particularly to CO- Nandang; our shopper and his mates having introduced a signed and customised All-Star Soccer Membership jersey to him someday in January 2024, after they paid him a courtesy go to after listening to of the wanton, unlawful, wrongful, unsanitary and arbitrary shaving of head being carried out by officers of the Nigerian Military, particularly throughout the Onitsha Barracks), however all efforts proved abortive.

“Our shopper while being brutally pressured to take a seat on an untarred highway, reminded CO- Nandang that he had assured them throughout that courtesy go to that skilled footballers or different “stars” had been protected from the rampant shaving of heads by the navy however they remained adamant. We’ve got connected as “Annexure B” a replica of the {photograph} of CO- Nandang and our shopper (with the identical Mr. Uzoma Charles and Mr. Ozor Philips) through the stated courtesy go to in your perusal.

“The ill-treatment of our shopper and Mr. Charles Uzoma shortly grew to become the destiny of Mr. Ozor Philips. All through this ungodly, embarrassing, and humiliating train, these officers made mockery and enjoyable of our shopper and his mates. Our shopper was known as all types of unprintable names and was even known as “Yahoo boy”, “dangerous boy” and “man man” by each the officers and a few passersby alike.

“In gentle of the above, it’s abundantly clear that the actions of those troopers represent a flagrant violation of the elemental proper to dignity of our shopper’s individual, and are prison, unlawful, unjust, illegal, and unconstitutional.

“Our shopper is not only a well-respected member of the society, however can also be one which has introduced a lot pleasure to tens of millions of football-loving Nigerians prior to now. There can’t, subsequently, be any justification by any means for the dehumanizing remedy he confronted by the hands of those troopers.

“Our shopper by maintaining clear and well-maintained dreadlocks, didn’t commit any crime identified to Nigerian legislation nor has he finished or omitted to do any act that will warrant the degrading remedy which he suffered within the fingers of the troopers.

“Our shopper was wrongly and unjustly profiled and handled as a standard prison and we dare say, that even criminals do have and revel in basic rights acknowledged and guarded by the Structure of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) besides the place such basic rights have been taken away from them by a Court docket of competent jurisdiction.”

The lawyer stated given the foregoing, “demand is hereby made upon your good workplace to right away arrange a disciplinary panel to research this case, and award applicable punishment to the erring officers consistent with the Armed Forces Act, 2004”.

“As well as, we strongly demand applicable financial compensation to be paid to our shopper for the unjustifiable violation of his basic human rights.”

Who’s Uche Nwofor?

Uche Nwofor is a former Nigerian footballer identified for his spectacular performances each nationally and internationally.

In April 2011, he was the highest scorer on the African Youth Championship, main Nigeria to a sixth title. He additionally shone on the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Colombia that very same yr.

Nwofor made his debut for the Tremendous Eagles in March 2010 and performed a key function in Nigeria’s victory within the WAFU Nations Cup.

The 32-year-old is now in search of accountability and justice for the assault he suffered.