Court Orders Public Apology, Imposes N50 Million Fine on Police for Human Rights Violation

Justice Modupe Osho Adebiyi of the Federal High Court in Abuja has imposed a N50 million fine on the Nigeria Police Force for violating the fundamental human rights of Prof. Zainab Duke Abiola. The fine also applies to one Ibrahim, reported to be the son of a former Inspector General of Police (IGP), Usman Alkali Baba.

According to an enrolment order dated December 19, 2023, and obtained by The Guardian, the defendants have been directed to publish a public apology to the applicant in two national newspapers.

The case stems from the alleged parading of Abiola in her nightgown by the respondents, which the judge ruled as a blatant violation of her rights. Abiola had filed an application invoking Order 1, Rule 3 of the Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules 2008, seeking a declaration that her arrest, torture, and detention by the police officers and men constituted a flagrant infringement of her fundamental rights.

She argued that the officers’ entry into her house on September 20, 2022, without a valid court order, was a violation of her rights and posed a threat to her family life.

In her judgment, the judge acknowledged the legality of arresting, detaining, or charging anyone suspected of committing an offence but stressed that such actions must adhere to legal limits. The judge noted that the applicant should have been charged to court within 24 hours but was instead detained for approximately 72 hours.

However, the judge did not grant the N500 million damages sought by the applicant, opting instead to award a N50 million fine, considering it fair and appropriate in the circumstances.

The ruling has sparked debates over police conduct and respect for human rights, with some questioning the adequacy of the fine and others praising the court’s stance on upholding fundamental rights.

The Guardian