Violation of human rights: Court awards N1m damages against Police

An FCT High Court sitting in Jabi, on Friday awarded N1 million damages against the Nigeria Police for detaining one Mark Sani for seven days without trial.

Justice Halilu Yusuf who awarded the cost said the Police breached the fundamental human rights of Sani.

Yusuf said although the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria provides for arrest by the Police, upon suspicion of anybody who committed a crime, such a person must be charged to court within a reasonable period of time.

The counsel to Sani, Mr Chinedu Akubuehad had told the court that Paul Udofia, the first defendant bought a plot of land situated at Lugbe, Abuja from Sani in 2014.

AKubue said the land in question was later revoked by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) later in 2014, which prompted Udofia to report to the police.

He said Udofia alleged that the applicant, the owner of Grow Venture Ltd sold a fake land to him and failed to address his complaints.

According to the counsel, Sani has explained that he bought the land from the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) before the FCTA began the revocation.

Akubue said Sani further explained to Udofia that plot and estate owners in the affected area had held series of meetings with the then FCT Minister, Bala Mohammed.

He said Sani told Udofia that the minister promised to reallocate another plot to him and the others and urged him to exercise patience.
According to him, rather than exercising patience, Udofia reported to the police.

He said Sani explained the matter to the police and pleaded for administrative bail, but the Police detained him for two days.

The counsel also said that the matter was transferred to the Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) where Sani was detained for five days.

SOURCE: VANGUARD