Court Orders Police To Pay Panel Beater N5m For Wrongful Arrest, Detention & Torture

CHUKA UBAH 

The Nigerian Police Force has been ordered to pay a panel beater, Mr. Friday Onyeobi, the sum of N5m for wrongful arrest, detention and torture in Onitsha, Anambra State.

 

P.M.EXPRESS reports that it was the judgment of the Anambra State High Court sitting in Onitsha, which made the order having found the Nigeria Police culpable for the conduct to serve as deterrent to other Police officers, who might want to do so in future.

 

The Presiding Judge, Justice S. N. Odili, also restrained the Police from further arrest, harassment or intimidation of Mr. Onyeobi.

Mr. Onyeobi’s lawyer, Barr. Callistus Mmagu, had dragged the Police and Esiobi Okwudili to Court, praying the Court to pay damages to his client for the torture and wrongful detention.

Okwudili Esiobi, who was Onyeobi’s friend, had taken a Toyota RAV Four car to him at Omagba Phase II, Onitsha, to sell for him. But the car with some others were stolen at the place they were parked on 13th June, 2023.

When Onyeobi told his friend that his car has been stolen, he was not convinced and reported the matter to Onitsha Area Command for investigation and the suspect, Onyeobi, was arrested and detained for interrogation over the matter.

However, when it appeared to him that the Police at the Area Command was not doing enough, he went ahead to report the matter again to Special Anti-Cult Squad of Police (SPACS) Obosi, Idemili North Local Government Area of the State.

At the SPACS office in Obosi, Onyeobi was subjected to untold torture including placing several six inches block on him, while tying his hands together with his legs and hung him face down on a cross-pole for him to accept that he stole the vehicle.

His counsel, Mmagu C.C. Esq. took him on bail and filed Fundamental Rights application against the Police and Okwudili asking for N25M damages.

Delivering the judgment on Wednesday, June 5, 2024, Justice Odili chided the Police for their illegal action and Okwudili for jumping from Area Command to Anti -Cult.

The Judge condemned the wrong detention of the panel beater, torture and degrading condition he was subjected to, saying that there was no justification for that.

He said the judgment would serve as deterrent to other Police men, who would want to act beyond the law to abuse and torture citizens.

Mmagu commended the judiciary for being the last hope of the common man, particularly Justice S.N. Odili for the courage to deliver such wonderful judgment.