Covid-19 Lockdown: Court Awards 5M Against Police Over Abuse Of Woman In Osun

By Ayobami Agboola, Osogbo

The Federal High Court sitting in Osogbo, has awarded N5 million damages against the Nigeria Police Force and the Inspector General of Police over the abuse of a woman in Osun State.

It will be recalled that two police officers in April 2020 were caught on camera for assaulting one Tola Azeez, in Odo Ori Market in Iwo, Osun State, when she was trying to buy drugs for her relatives at a pharmacy.

The assault which was condemned by the police and residents took place while police officers were enforcing COVID-19 lockdown.

The police later identified the erring officers as Ikuesan Taiwo, an inspector and Abass Ibrahim, a corporal.

To protest the assault, a fundamental human right enforcement suit was filed by a lawyer, Pelumi Olajengbesi, on behalf of Ms Azeez.

The police counsel, F.B Osei, argued that Messrs Taiwo and Ibrahim were agents of the Nigeria Police Force, and that the Nigeria Police Force and the Inspector General of Police could not be held liable for the acts and omission of its officers.

This was countered by Mr Olajensgbesi who said the officers carried out the assault during an official assignment as agents of the police force.

Delivering his judgement on Monday, Justice Ayo Emmanuel, resolved the matter in favour of the applicant.

Justice Emmanuel held that the actions of the offending officers in the discharge of their official duties as agents of the police amounted to an infringement of the Fundamental Right to Dignity of Ms Azeez, a liability the Nigeria Police Force must shoulder.

The court then awarded the sum of N5 million as aggravated and general damages against the police.