An Onitsha high Court has ordered the Nigeria Police to pay N5 million to a panel beater, Mr. Friday Onyeobi for wrongful arrest, detention and torture.
The Onitsha High Court 4 presided over by Justice S. N. Odili. also restrained the Police from further arrest, harassment or intimidation of Mr. Onyeobi.
Onyeobi’s lawyer, 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 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 June 13, 2023.
When Onyeobi told his friend that his car has been stolen, he was not convinced and reported the matter to Onitsha Area Command.
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.
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