Court slams N10 million fine on police for illegal detention of Anambra businessman
An Anambra High Court sitting in Awka on Tuesday awarded N10 million as damages against the Nigeria Police Force and AIG Abutu Yaro, in charge of Zone 13 of the Nigeria Police.
It was over the illegal detention of one Chukwuemeka Ekwueme, a real estate developer.
Presiding Justice D. A. Onyefulu, a vacation judge, also awarded N200,000 as cost of litigation in favour of the plaintiff.
Justice Onyefulu also issued a restraining order on the police from arresting, detaining, harassing or intimidating Mr Ekwueme on the same matter and ruled that the police should, instead prefer charges against him.
The judgment resulted from Suit No. A/Misc 461/2022 which Mr Ekwueme filed against the defendants to enforce his rights to freedom.
Counsel to Mr Ekwueme, Alex Ejesieme (SAN), had earlier told the court that the police arrested and detained his client between December 14 and December 28, 2022, without charging him to court.
The arrest and detention, he added, was in relation to an attempt by Mr Ekwueme to develop a parcel of land at Oba International Airport in Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra.
He argued that the police arrested his client based on a petition by the community and detained him between December 14 and December 28, 2022, without prosecuting him.
Other defendants in the suit were Nkiru Nwode, police spokesperson at Zone 13 of the Nigeria Police Force and Emmanuel Awah, an officer in the office of the spokesperson.
The same court ordered the immediate release of Mr Ekwueme on December 28, 2022, following a bail application by his counsel.
(NAN)
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
States
Independence: NBA urges Nigerians to expect better future
The NBA said that ordinary Nigerians should be deriving benefit from the subsidy removal rather than hardship.
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.”
Abuja
Dry Season: FCT residents raise concerns over fire hazards, heat
Mr Clement advised farmers and other residents to adopt safer methods of clearing farmlands.
World
81-year-old Briton emerges oldest, first science fiction author to win Booker Prize
The 198-page novel, which was the shortest book on the shortlist, is the first work of science fiction to clinch the prestigious £50,000 pound ($67,000) literary award.
NationWide
FG plans assessment tests for foreign graduates before NYSC mobilisation
The FG said the move aimed at preventing certificate fraud and protecting academic standards.
Education
JAMB issues guidelines for prospective 2027 UTME candidates
JAMB has yet to announce when registration for the 2027 UTME will commence.
Heading 1
Suspended Reform UK councillor convicted over post saying Nigerians should be “melted down” to “fill potholes”
During his trial at South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court on Monday, Mr Gibblins defended the comments, describing them as a “tongue in cheek” joke.
World
56 migrants died in shipwrecks off Senegal, Greece, says IOM
In one incident, Greek authorities rescued 28 Sudanese migrants and recovered eight bodies.
