DPO Bako: Court Orders Police, Others to Pay Accused N3m
From ERIC MOORE, Port Harcourt
A High Court of Rivers State sitting in Port Harcourt presided by Justice A.M. Oriye, has ordered the Nigeria Police and others to pay the sum of N3 million as compensation to Eze Ekpeye Logbo, Kelvin Anugwo, for illegally arresting him on September 10, 2023, and detaining him for 82 days over the death of Superintendent of Police, SP Bako Amgbashim.
In Suit No. PHC/3044/FHR/23, the applicant, Anugwo had dragged to court, the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Polycarp Emeka Nwonyi, Inspector General of Police, Octopus Police Command, Ojoto, Port Harcourt and State Criminal Department (CID), Port Harcourt, on infringement of his fundamental human rights by the respondents.
Justice Oriye, while delivering his judgement on Monday, also ordered the Police to tender a public apology to the applicant in a national paper for breach of his fundamental rights.
The court also issued an order of injunction restraining the Police from further arresting, threatening or harassing the applicant in respect to the death of Bako Amgbashim.
Justice Oriye also awarded the sum of N200,000 in favour of the applicant.
Court said: “That the arrest and detention of the applicant from 10/09/2023 till date over the matter concerning the death of SP Bako, the Divisional Police Officer in Ahoada Town in Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers State is unlawful, unconstitutional and constitutes an infringement of the fundamental rights of the applicant as enshrined in Cap. IV of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).
“The respondents are hereby ordered to pay the sum of N3,000,000 jointly and severally to the applicant as compensation for the infringement of his fundamental rights as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).”
Speaking to journalists shortly after the judgement, counsel for Eze Ekpeye Logbo, Ikashi Emehi, described the judgement as justice for the Ekpeye people.
Ends.