An Owerri high court Wednesday
awarded N20 million as damage against the Nigeria police for assaulting an
Owerri-based lawyer, Chukwuemeka
Amaghiro in 2016.
Justice K.A Orjiako in his judgment said the respondents were found guilty of gross
violation of the applicant’s fundamental human right.
Amaghiro had in 2016
filed a suit of violation of his fundamental human right against the Police
Service Commission, Nigerian Police Force, Commissioner of Police in Imo State
and the OC D8 SARS investigative police officer, Bassey Ikpa for assaulting him in 2016.
Orjiako further held
that all evidence before him proved that the lawyer’s fundamental right was
grossly violated.
He said he decided to
award the damage considering the reputation of the person assaulted and the
provision of the law on human right violation.
The further advised
the police to always respect human right while discharging their duties.
Amaghiro and Emeka
Iwuchukwu were allegedly assaulted by some police officers when they visited
their client, Keziah Nwoha, who was under police detention in 2016.
Iwuchukwu, who was
equally assaulted on the same issue was awarded N10 million as damage in Dec.
6, 2016 in an Owerri High Court presided by Justice E.F Njemanze.
The counsel to the
applicant, Soronnadi Njoku said his clients decided to approach the court due
to how they were manhandled by police officers on the instigation of the OC
SARS D10, Emenike.
He said the two
lawyers visited the police to find out why their client was arrested and
detained as her case was still pending in court.
“When the lawyers got
to the police, the IPO Ikpa became
hostile on the two lawyers.
“The lawyers became
helpless and decided to approach his superior, who directed the officers to
deal with them,” he said.
He said he would
enforce the two judgments simultaneously to ensure that the damage awarded to
the applicants was paid.
All the respondents
and their lawyers were absent during the judgment.
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