A Federal High Court in Lagos on Thursday fixed Feb. 23 to rule on a motion to introduce oral evidence in a suit by a journalist, Otunba Olomofe, against the Nigerian Custom Service (NCS) over alleged rights infringement and physical assault on him by some customs officers.

The Lagos branch of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) had filed the suit on behalf of the Badagry-based journalist, seeking enforcement of his rights to life, freedom of expression and the press.

Joined as respondents are the Comptroller-General of customs and other officials — Muhammed Ndalati, Emmanuel Nkemdirim, and Ibrahim Turaki,

Applicant had filed the suit following alleged severe assault and brutal beating he suffered in the hands of Customs officers and some hoodlums allegedly hired by them.

When the case was called on Thursday, counsel to the plaintiff, Mr Jiti Oguneye, informed the court of his motion, seeking leave to introduce oral evidence as well as to file a further affidavit and written address.

In his ruling, Justice Abdulazeez Anka fixed Feb. 23 to rule on the applications.

The suit which was filed in January 2016 was fixed for mention on Feb. 22, March 17, and June 16, 2016 but had suffered some setbacks.

On June 16, 2016, after the case was called, counsel to respondents had informed the court that the applicant was absent, and urged it to strike out the suit.

Consequently, Justice Abdulazeez Anka struck out the suit.

Also on June 17, 2016, counsel to the applicant, Jiti Ogunye, re-filed the suit and served processes including his application to re-list the suit on the respondents.

In the pending action, the applicant is claiming N500 million as damages against the NCS for the assault he suffered at Seme Border Post of the Customs on June 25, 2015.

Olomofe is also asking the court to declare that the respondents, in beating and causing him internal injuries, infringed on his right to life as guaranteed by Section 33 (1) of the 1999 Constitution.

In addition, the journalist a declaration that the assault done to him in the course of discharging his professional duties and obligations constituted an infringement on his rights to freedom of expression and the press.

He wants the court to award him N500 million as damages.