Human rights violation: Court orders NSCDC to pay Niger lawyer N5m in damages

A Minna High Court 4 in Niger State has ordered the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, to pay N5 million to a Minna-based legal practitioner, Mr. Ifeanyichukwu Emmanuel Igwe, as damages.

The presiding Judge, Justice Mohammed Mohammed also awarded N200,000 as the cost of litigation and five percent monthly interest on the Judgment sum.

Igwe had approached the High Court in suit number NSHC/MN/112/2023 through his counsel, Bar Bala Ibrahim Zuru, over the alleged violation of his fundamental human rights in the state.

Respondents in the suit include the Commandant-General of the NSCDC, CG Abubakar Abdullahi Audi; the NSCDC headquarters, the State Commandant of the Corps, Namadi Nura, as well as Mr. Henry Bawa.

Mohammed held that the applicant is entitled to the right to dignity of human persons protected by Section 34 (1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic,1999.

He averred that the actions of the first and second defendants as well as other agents of the third to the fourth defendants who allegedly kicked and beat the petitioner with sticks and fists inside the fourth defendant’s state office, located along David Mark Road, Minna, the state capital, among others were violations to his human rights.

According to him, “It is unlawful, unconstitutional, and amounts to a violation of section 34 (1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 and Articles 4 and 5 of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights ( Ratification and Enforcement) Act CAP 9 Laws of Federation of Nigeria, 2004″

“The sum of N 5,000,000.00 is awarded as damages jointly and severally, against the respondents and in favor of the applicant as compensation for the violation of his fundamental right”.