26th August, 2011
Justice Ugochukwu Ogakwu of the Abuja High Court on Thursday ordered the Inspector-General of Police (IG), Mr. Hafiz Ringim, to pay N500,000 compensation to one Garshon Nyengonum for unlawful detention.
He gave the order while delivering judgment in a suit filed by Nyengonum against the IG and the FCT Commissioner of Police, Michael Zuokumor.
Nyengonum was arrested on July 8 at Nneka, Rivers State over a land dispute and transferred to the FCT Police Command, where he has been in detention for more than one month.
His Counsel, Mr. Olusanjo Jimoh, had filed a motion challenging his unlawful detention by the FCT Police and for the enforcement of the applicantâ€
In his affidavit, Nyengonum had asked for N5 million compensation and an order of perpetual injunction restraining the respondents from further detaining him.
In his judgment, Ogakwu said Nyengonumâ€
He therefore ordered that Nyengonum be paid N500,000 as compensation by the IG for his unlawful detention.
He also restrained the respondents from further detaining Nyengonum.