A High Court sitting in Nchia, the Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State, has awarded N100 million damages against the Nigeria Police Force.
The court presided over by Justice C.D Green in a fundamental rights suit filed by Godgift Nwokolu against the NPF and two others over the killing of her father, Nte Nwokolu, on September 24, 2021, by Inspector Emeka attached to the anti-kidnapping unit of Rivers State Police Command, awarded the sum as damages to the deceased family.
Counsel for the applicant, Obaraianenu Nwokolu, explained that the court declared and stated that the action of the respondent (NPF) in the shooting of the applicant’s father acted against the fundamental rights to life of the applicant’s father under sections 33, 34 and 35 of 1999 constitution and also article 4,5 and 7 of African Charter and Human peoples right ratification and enforcement act 1990.
He stated that the court further declared that any institution holding the corpse of the late Nte Nwokolu be released to the family.
According to Nwokolu, the court granted the last prayer of the applicant by ordering the cost of N100 million to be paid to the family of the applicant as the act of shooting and killing the applicant’s father contravenes his constitutional right to life.
He explained, “On 24th September 2021 men of anti-kidnapping unit came to Njuru community of Agbonchia clan in Eleme LGA to effect the arrest of some persons when they shot and killed the applicant’s father who was sitting down and watching like every other person.
“The police unit on seeing that the man is dead, shot sporadically into the air while carting away his corpse.
“The family wrote a petition to the Commissioner of Police, who minuted it to the anti-kidnapping unit to investigate the veracity of the claims made by the deceased family and report back.
“Rather than investigating the incident, the unit kept on threatening the family which warranted the applicant to file an action in court.
“Despite serving four different hearing notice on the Nigeria Police Force, they refused to appear in court till 17th February 2022 the judgement was given by the court.”
The lawyer hailed the judgment, saying it was an opportunity for all citizens to know that they can seek redress if the police, any other institution or individual trample on their rights.
