Murder: Court awards N6m against police, orders release of detainees

An FCT High Court has ordered the police to immediately and unconditionally release two relatives of a murder victim. Chief Edward Okoye, a relative of the deceased and leader of the vigilante, and Hon. Vincent Nwokolo, a former councillor in the area, were arrested and detained on July 11, 2019. According to their lawyer, Alex […]

An FCT High Court has ordered the police to immediately and unconditionally release two relatives of a murder victim.

Chief Edward Okoye, a relative of the deceased and leader of the vigilante, and Hon. Vincent Nwokolo, a former councillor in the area, were arrested and detained on July 11, 2019.

According to their lawyer, Alex Egesimba Esq. they went to complain about the killing of their relative, Angus Okafor in Aniocha North Local Government Area of Anambra State by unknown persons in December 2018.

Ruling on the fundamental rights application, Justice Peter Affen held that the continued detention of the suspects is a violation of their fundamental rights “as enshrined and guaranteed by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).”

The judge awarded the sum of N3m to each of the detainees as compensation “for violation of their fundamental rights.”

He further restrained the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Adamu, and the Superintendent of Police Team Leader, Ibrahim Angbasa from “further arresting, detaining or otherwise interfering with or breaching the applicants’ fundamental human rights on account of the very same facts and circumstances that led to their wrongful arrest and detention as aforesaid save and unless upon the orders of a superior court of record.”