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November 13, 2023
Justice Ntong Ntong of the Akwa Ibom State High Court, on Monday ordered the Nigeria Police to pay the sum of N200 million as damages to a woman, Peace Ekom Robert, who was arrested and detained by the police operatives for alleged fraudulent activities.
SaharaReporters had reported that police operatives stormed Robert’s residence, and harassed her relatives and close friends after they had been stationed at strategic spots around the house.
SaharaReporters reported on August 19, 2023, that Robert sued the acting Inspector-General of the police, Kayode Egbetokun, the police service commission, three police officers, and one Ifenyinwa Anthonia Olua (Ugo) to the Akwa Ibom State High Court in Uyo.
SaharaReporters had also reported that the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, in a press statement confirmed that police operatives arrested and detained Robert who was said to have been wanted for alleged fraudulent activities.
On October 16, SaharaReporters reported that Robert raised the alarm over the police’s refusal to charge her to court after claiming that operatives had completed investigation into the matter.
She had also alleged that the Commissioner of Police, Administration at the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) Abuja, Ibrahim Baba Zango, had been making attempts on her life, sending police personnel to her despite the pendency of court action against him and police authorities.
On Monday, her counsel, Uwemedimo Nwoko (SAN) confirmed that the court declared Robert’s arrest and detention illegal and unlawful.
Nwoko further said that the courts further declared that the police also unlawfully and constitutionally extorted her by forcing her to pay the sum N15 million which they collected purportedly in recovery of an alleged fraudulent money while the investigation was still ongoing and the police had not concluded investigation on the matter.
“The court ordered that the police should get that N15 million (from Ifenyinwa Anthonia Olua) and deposit it with the Chief Registrar of the Federal High Court in Abuja to be paid into an interest yielding account pending the determination of the charge filed against her before the Federal High Court.
“The court further ordered that the Inspector General of Police, Commissioner of Police, Baba Zango Ibrahim, one inspector and another superintendent who were added together, with the Police Service Commission should pay damages of N200 million to the applicants, Peace Robert for the unlawful and illegal detention, arrest and detention and the torture they have put her through.”
He further said that they deposed in an affidavit that the Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim threatened that he would cause trouble for Robert until she either dies or runs away, which the police deny in court.