Amaechi Okonkwo, Port Harcourt
A Port Harcourt High Court, on Friday, awarded N75 million against the Nigerian police in a fundamental human rights suit filed by the family of the late automobile mechanic, Chima Ikwunado who was arrested and tortured to death by officers of the Nigeria Police.
Ikwunado’s family had instituted a fundamental action against the Inspector General of Police, the Rivers State Commissioner of Police and former E-crack Commander, SP Benson Adetuyi and four dismissed police officers.
Presiding Judge, Justice F. I Mark in her judgment fined the police N75-million as damages to the family.
In her reaction to the judgment, counsel to the late Ikwunado’s family, Princess Lawrence described the judgment as victory for the rule of law.
She however regretted that no amount of money can bring the victim back to life.
Lawrence said; “We are happy, although we expected a high amount as damages, there is no amount of monetary damages that can bring the late Chima Ikwunado back to life.
“We were seeking for the enforcement of his fundamental rights on behalf of his son, Master Emmanuel Ahamefuna Ikwunado and the court awarded all the relief including award of damages.
“We asked for N10 billion, N5 billion general damages, N5 exemplary damages but the court in its wisdom awarded N75 million against the respondents.”
Chima Ikwunado, a mechanic and his three apprentices were arbitrarily arrested, detained, extorted and tortured to death by men of the Nigerian Police Force in Rivers State.
Chima and his apprentices, Victor Ogbonna, Osaze Friday, Ifeanyi Osuji and Ifeanyi Onyekwere were arrested for driving against traffic and tortured at Mile 1 Police Station by SP Benson Adetuyi.
At the point of arrest, the policemen took N93,000 found on Chima and remanded him on allegations of car theft.
He was eventually tortured to death while his apprentices survived with different degrees of injuries from their own experience
