NUJ sues funeral home, others over assault on photojournalist

The Lagos State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists on Friday filed a N50 million suit against TOS Funeral Services over alleged assault on a photojournalist, Benedict Uwalaka.
The NUJ filed the suit on behalf of Uwalaka, a photojournalist with Leadership newspapers, before Justice Lateefat Okunnu of an Ikeja High Court.
The court has fixed November 27 for hearing of the suit.
Joined as respondents are Bayo Ogunsola, a Director of TOS Funeral Services, the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital Management Board; and the Attorney-General of Lagos State.
In its statement of claim, the NUJ alleged that Ogunsola had assaulted Uwalaka on August 9, 2012 at the premises of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja.
Counsel to the claimant, Jiti Ogunye, said the alleged assault occurred while Uwalaka was covering the release of the bodies of victims of the Dana Air crash at LASUTH.
The NUJ, therefore, asked for a declaration that the assault violated Uwalaka’s right to life as guaranteed by Section 33 (1), of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The body asked for a declaration that the seizure of Uwalaka’s camera, which was his tool for the practice of his trade, constituted an infringement on his right to freedom of expression.
The NUJ also asked the court for an order directing the respondents, jointly and severally, to pay N50 million to Uwalaka, as exemplary and special damages for the violation of his fundamental rights.