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.
Facts have emerged on how the Nigeria Police Force failed to comply with the ruling of Justice Ntong Ntong of the Akwa Ibom State High Court ordering the force 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.
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 the recovery of an alleged fraudulent money while the investigation was still ongoing and the police had not concluded investigation on the matter.
Giving an update during a telephone conversation with SaharaReporters, Nwoko on Tuesday claimed that despite a subsisting ruling of the court, the Nigerian Police still detained his client, Ekom for more than 30 days.
The police, according to the lawyer, also did not pay any of the N200 million in damages and the N15 million extorted from Ekom while in detention.
The lawyer said: “The Police refused to honour the summons to the courts. They were served with all the originating processes and three hearing notices; three different hearing notices. So the court went ahead and held the fundamental rights action and found that the police were liable that she was in long detention. Since March 2023 and then second one commencing from September 22nd, 2023 till she was charged to court was unlawful and the court awarded N200million against the police and ordered that she should be released immediately. It would be of interest to interest to know that the police refused to obey that order to release her and still held her In custody for almost one month before she was finally arranged.”
He continued: “Even though the offences for which she was charged are all bailable in nature. As of this moment, the police are yet to pay the N200million, which the damages awarded by Akwa Ibom State High Court. Two, the police is also yet to comply with the Akwa Ibom State High Court to pay the N15m that police in course of investigation even when investigation has not been concluded, they acted as debt collector and forced her to pay N15m to the police which Akwa Ibom State High Court order that that N15m should be deposited into the custody of the Chief Registrar of the Federal High Court, Abuja where the charge is pending.”