An Owerri High Court on Wednesday awarded N20m as
damage against the Nigeria Police for assaulting an
Owerri-based lawyer, Chukwuemeka Amaghiro, in 2016.
In his judgment, Justice K.A Orjiako, 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.
He 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 N10m as damage in December 6,
2016 in an Owerri High Court presided by Justice E.F
Njemanze.
The counsel to the applicant, Mr. Soronnadi Njoku, said
that his clients decided to approach the court due to
how they were manhandled by police officers on the
instigation of the OC SARS D10, Mr. 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.
He said, “When the lawyers got to the police, the
Investigating Police Officer, Mr. Bassey 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 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.
