Court orders police to pay IPOB activist N50 million for unlawful detention

The Gudu Division of the Federal Capital Territory High court has ordered the Nigerian Police Force to pay N50 million as reparation for the unlawful detention of Ngozi Umeadi.
Ms Umeadi, an activist of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), was arrested in February 2021 under the supervision of disgraced head of police Intelligence Response Team (IRT), Abba Kyari.
She was arrested at a hospital in Onitsha, Anambra State, where she was receiving a post partum care, per Sahara Reporters.
Mr Kyari was removed from office on July 31 following his involvement with a famous fraudster Hushpuppi.
Ms Umeadi through her lawyer Ifeanyi Ejiofor instituted a fundamental rights suit challenging her unlawful arrest and continuous detention by the police.
The presiding judge, Modupe Osho-Adebiyi, declared Ms Umeadi’s continuous detention as a gross violation of her fundamental human rights.
The judge ordered her immediate and unconditional release with an exemplary and aggravated damages fine of N50 million paid to her by the Nigerian police force.
Ms Osho-Adebiyi also ordered the police to tender a public apology to Ms Umeadi published in two national dailies.
Mr Ejiofor in a statement on his Facebook page said his team will try every possible course of action in enforcing the court order.
“We SHALL leave no stone unturned to ensure that the terms of this judgment is carried out to the letter. We shall also be speedily following up on prompt compliance with these terms of judgment, while other pending applications affecting others still in this category are being addressed in Court,” Mr Ejiofor said.
“However, be assured that justice can only be delayed but not denied. All persons illegally arrested and still being detained by the lawless Nigerian Security Agencies shall get justice.we are not relenting,” he added.
We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.
More from Peoples Gazette

Agriculture
FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology
The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices

Politics
Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku
“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”

States
Bank customers lament hardship as network failures disrupt transactions in Ibadan
A businessman said poor banking networks had affected trading activities and resulted in financial losses.

Lagos
Alimosho LG decentralises sanitation exercise across seven wards
The chairman reiterated that maintaining a clean environment required collective responsibility and sustained action.

Lagos
Yaba LCDA urges residents to sustain environmental sanitation
The chairman warned residents against indiscriminate dumping of refuse in drainages and open spaces.

Africa
AfDB, partners equip African public servants with free AI skills
The director said the training was self-paced.

Politics
Your administration has neglected us, Oyo APC support groups tell Tinubu
The coordinator said members have not been adequately engaged, recognised or integrated into the governance process till now.

NationWide
Nigerians deserve good governance, not food palliatives, says group
Mr Teslim said that political campaigns should be centred on issues affecting the people.





