AN Anambra State High Court sitting in Otuocha, Anambra East Local Government Area has ordered the Commissioner of Police in the state and two others to pay N15m to a lawyer, Emmanuel Arinze, as damages for infringing on his rights.
Arinze had alleged in his claims that the officer in charge of Aguleri Police Area Command, Mr Abdu Osu and Sergeant Oviaede Mamode had on December 3, 2018, arrested, tortured, humiliated and detained him in a police cell at Aguleri Area Command till the following day.
The applicant stated that the action of the two officers, who were working as agents of the state Commissioner of Police was unconstitutional and a gross violation of his fundamental rights to the dignity of human, personal liberty and freedom of movement, as guaranteed under sections 34, 35, and 41 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).
In his judgement, Justice Dilibe Amaechina, affirmed that the police officers used the force of their might to torture and intimidate the applicant, who was a young lawyer that went to the Police Area Command to facilitate an amicable settlement of a land transaction involving his clients.
Justice Amaechina maintained that the 1st and 2nd respondents, “In a naked show of power tried to bludgeon the applicant into submission, by intimidating, torturing, humiliating, assaulting, beating and pushing him inside the police cell.
Source: daily post ng