By Polycarp Ifeanyi, Onitsha
The Federal High Court sitting in Awka, the Anambra State capital, has ordered Isuofia Micro Finance Bank Ltd and the Nigeria Police to pay the sum of N2,200,000 (Two Million, Two Hundred Thousands Naira) to one Mrs Ohadugha Gloria Chizara, a nursing mother, for her unlawful arrest and detention at Okpoko female police cell.
The suit No: FHC/ Awka / CS/ 121 /2022 was between Ohadugha Gloria Chizara, the applicant and Isuofia Micro Finance Bank Ltd, Nwafor Okechukwu, Nwoke Ifeoma, Commissioner of Police Anambra State, Ugochukwu Ugbo, the Divisional Police Officer Okpoko and Inspector Chinelo Okechi ( I.P.O) as respondents.
Counsel for the applicant, F.N Asogwa ESq of His Grace Chambers, in her application of fundamental rights, had prayed the court for an order for the respondents to pay her client the sum of (N100,000,000) One Hundred Million Naira as a compensation as well as general damages for “violating her fundamental rights to life, dignity of human persons, right to personal liberty and freedom of movement from June 22, 2022, till June 24, 2022, at Okpoko Police cell in Anambra State.
She also prayed court that the respondents should pay N50,000,000 (Fifty Million Naira) to her client as exemplary damages for “violating, infringing and breaching her client’s fundamental rights to life.”
The counsel also asked that the respondents should be restrained with his privies, agents or cohorts from “violating, infringing and breaching her client’s fundamental right to life, dignity of the human persons, right to personal liberty and freedom of movement as enshrined in Nigeria constitution among other reliefs.
Delivering judgment on the matter the presiding Judge, Justice F. I. Riman, directed the police, the bank, Nwafor Okechukwu, and Nwoke Ifeoma to pay the nursing mother the sum of N2 million.
The Judge also ordered the respondents to pay two hundred thousand naira (N200,000), as exemplary damages for violating, infringing and breaching the applicant’s fundamental rights from June 22, 2022 to June 24, 2022 at Okpoko Police Station, where she was detained.
The court equally granted an injunctions restraining the respondents, his privies, agents or cohorts from violating, infringing and breaching Chizara’s fundamental rights to life, dignity of human persons, rights to personal liberty and freedom of movement as enshrined in 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The applicant, Chizara was said to be detained over a loan transaction which has not even been determined, but she has been servicing the loan not withstanding.