A High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has ordered the Nigeria Police to pay N3 million as compensation to Kelvin Anugwo, a traditional ruler in Ahoada East Council of Rivers State, for illegally arresting him.
The monarch was arrested on September 10, last year, and detained for 82 days over the death of the late Divisional Police Officer, SP Bako Amgbashim.
The claimant, Anugwo, in a suit marked PHCR044/FHR23, had sued the state’s Police Commissioner; the Inspector General of Police; the Octopus Strike Force, and the State Criminal Investigation Department for infringing on his fundamental rights.
In his judgment, Justice A. M. Oriye ruled that the arrest and detention of the applicant from September 10, 2023 till date was unlawful, unconstitutional, and constituted an infringement of his fundamental rights.
The judge ordered the police to tender a public apology to the applicant in a national paper and issued an injunction restraining the police from further arresting, threatening or harassing the applicant.
