A High Court in Ogun State, Ijebu-Ode Division, has ordered the police to pay N2 million in damages to one Abolaji Alaba over illegal arrest and detention.
According to a decision obtained by Justice A.A Omoniyi on September 29, 2023, the court concluded that Alaba’s arrest was unlawful, unjustifiable, and unconstitutional, adding that the applicant’s rights were violated.
The judge further ruled that the applicant, Alaba, was unlawfully detained by police operatives at the Special Anti-Robbery Squad facility in Magbon, Abeokuta, from June 25, 2018, to July 1, 2018.
The case with suit No. HCJ/184/2020 was between the applicant Alaba and the Inspector-General of Police, the Commissioner of Police, Ogun State, the Police Public Relations Officer, and other policemen.
The application was made following Order 1 Rule 2(1), 2 and 3 of the Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure Rules 2009, as well as Articles 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 11, and 18 of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) 2014, and Sections 3, 35, 36, and 46 of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, as amended.
According to the suit, Alaba alleged that he was detained in June 2020 by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad for alleged armed robbery, abduction, attempted murder, and obtaining money under false pretenses to the tune of N25 million, which he did not do.
He further stated that the police paraded him in front of the media, who published him in the papers, in violation of his fundamental human rights.
The application read, “Precisely, on Thursday, June 25, 2018, around 11.25 pm, members of the SARS led by the 5th respondent, in the company of about six other policemen, came to my residence at No 32, Asanke Quarters, Ijebu Ode-Epe Expressway to arrest me.
