An Abuja High Court on Wednesday ordered the Nigeria Police Force to pay N12million to Mr Odu Johnson, a 34-year-old Nigerian, as damages for unlawful detention and violation of his fundamental rights.
Justice Mudashiru Oniyanyi gave the order, while delivering judgement in a suit filed by Johnson, asking for N150million from the police as damages for unlawful detention.
Johnson had dragged the Inspector-General of Police and FCT Commissioner of Police to court, claiming that he was detained for allegedly stealing 12 tyres belonging to one Mrs. Suzy Micheal.
Johnson said that he worked for Mrs. Suzy as a sales boy and left without receiving his one month outstanding salary. He said that after two weeks, Mrs. Suzy called him to come over to collect his salary, adding that when he went he was arrested by the police and detained for 13 days.
Justice Oniyangi said the evidence before him proved that Johnson was held in solitary confinement for 13 days, without being arraigned before any court of law.
“There is unchallenged evidence before me from which I believe the applicant was in detention for 13 days in 2007 and was subjected to untold hardship.
“I also have evidence to show that the police subjected him to degrading and inhuman treatment. He was in solitary confinement and held hostage for 13 days. The conduct of the police in detaining the applicant beyond one day, as it is mandated in our Constitution, unless his case is charged to court, was aggravated in nature.
“I hold the view that the action of the police was reckless, vindictive, high-handed and oppressive. It also depicts an abuse of official powers and gross indiscipline by our men in uniform. It is reprehensive to the extreme and showed a gross disregard for the rule of law,” the Judge said.
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