Court slams Civil Defence Corps with N5 million damages for violating rights of a legal practitioner in Minna

Niger State Command of the Nigeria Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC has been slammed with the sum of N5 million to be paid to Barrister Ifeanyichukwu Emmanuel Igwe as damages and compensation for violating his fundamental human rights.

The Justice Mohammed Mohammed of Minna High Court 4 delivered the judgement in a suit number, NSHC/MN/112/2023 which was filed through his lawyer Barrister Bala Ibrahim Zuru.

The judge also held that the sum of N200,000 should be paid as cost of litigation and 5% monthly interest on the judgment sum from the date of judgment until the judgment sum is fully liquidated.

Joined in the suit included the Commandant General of the NSCDC CG Abubakar Abdullahi Audi, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence headquarters, the State Command of the Corps, Namadi Nura, and Henry Bawa, às respondents in the suit.

Delivering judgment on Monday, Justice Mohammed Mohammed, averred that the applicant is entitled to right to dignity of human person protected by section 34 (1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic,1999 and under articles 4 and 5 of the African Charter on Human and people’s Rights ( Ratification and Enforcement):Act, CAP A 9 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

The Judge in his ruling added that the action of the first and second respondents and other agents of the third to the fifth respondents in the kicking and beating of the applicant with sticks and fists inside the fifth defendant’s Minna office, along David Mark road, Minna in Niger state among others violating the applicant’s right ” is unlawful, unconstitutional, and amounts to a violation of section 34 (1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,.

“The sum of N 5,000,000.00 (Five million naira), is awarded as damages jointly and severally, against the respondents and in favor of the applicant as compensation for the violation of his fundamental right

“The sum of N200,0000 (Two hundred thousand) as cost of litigation . While five percent monthly interest on the Judgement sum from the date of judgment until the judgment sum is fully liquidated” the held.