By CHARLES IWUOHA

A Federal High Court, Abakaliki Division, has delivered a landmark judgment in favour of a legal practitioner, Sampson Imeze Ekigbo, awarding him a total of ?22 million in damages and costs against the Nigerian Correctional Service and four other respondents.

The judgment, delivered on Thursday by Justice Hillary Oshomah in suit number FHC/AI/FHR/11/2025, arose from a fundamental rights enforcement action filed by Mr. Ekigbo on January 30, 2025.

The applicant was brutally assaulted on November 26, 2024, at Harriz Filling Station, Abakaliki, by two men identified as Mr. Ifeanyi Nwovu and Mr. Ogwuma Chidi, officers of the Nigerian Correctional Service.

The lawyer, who is also a presiding officer in the Customary Court, filed a suit against the Service, its Comptroller General, and the Comptroller in Charge of Ebonyi Command of the Service and the two officers.

In his ruling, Justice Oshomah held that the beating amounted to a gross violation of the applicant?s fundamental human rights, particularly his right to dignity of person as enshrined under Section 34 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

"The beating of the Applicant who is a presiding officer of the Customary Court and legal practitioner at Harriz Filling Station, Abakaliki, on the 26th day of November, 2024 without just cause by the 4th and 5th Respondents who were working for the 1st to 3rd Respondents, is a gross violation of the Fundamental Human Rights of the Applicant to dignity of his person contrary to Section 34 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria."

He further issued a perpetual injunction restraining the respondents and their agents from further torturing, intimidating, or molesting the applicant without lawful cause.

"An Order of Perpetual Injunction be and is hereby granted by this Honourable Court restraining the Respondents or anyone acting through them from torturing, molesting and/or intimidating the Applicant without committing any known wrong or offence or without a justifiable reason", the judge said.

The Judge also ordered the Respondents to tender an unreserved apology to the applicant, to be published in two national dailies within 14 days.

"That the Respondents are by order of this Honourable Court mandated to tender an unreserved apology to the Applicant and same to be published in Two National Dailies within 14 days of this Judgment", the Judge said

Justice Oshomah further awarded N20 million as compensation for the assault and the pain suffered by the applicant.

In addition, the court awarded an additional N2million to cover costs and expenses incurred in the prosecution of the case by the applicants.

He said: "That N20,000,000.00 (Twenty Million Naira) only is hereby assessed and awarded against the Respondents jointly and severally as compensation for the pains and torture that was meted on the Applicant by the 4th and 5th Respondents on 26h November, 2024.

"Cost and expenses incidental to the institution and prosecution of this action is by order of this Honourable Court assessed to be N2,000,000.00 (Two Million Naira) in favour of the Applicant against the Respondents jointly and severally", the Judge added.

The court imposed a 10% per annum post-judgment interest on the cumulative judgment sum should the respondents fail to pay within 14 days.

"Post judgment interest at the rate of 10% per annum on the entire cumulative Judgment sum is hereby awarded, to commence running if after 14 days from this Judgment the judgment sum is not finally and fully liquidated by the Respondents", the judge said.

Neither the applicant nor the respondents were physically present in court during the judgment.

Their lawyers C.C. Aliugo, for the applicant, and Samuel Nwalieze, for the respondents were however in court.

Mr. Aliugo described the ruling as a bold step in reinforcing the sanctity of fundamental human rights and sending a strong signal against abuse of power by security agencies.

The applicant, Mr. Ekigbo in an interview on Friday expressed relief at the judgement.

Recounting his ordeal, Ekibu said the incident occurred on November 24, 2024, after a tricycle rammed into his vehicle at Harriz Filling Station, Abakaliki, where he had gone for repairs.

He noted that he was attacked by two armed officers of the Correctional Service who slapped and dragged him, threatening to shoot him despite his protests that he was a judicial officer.

The assault, he said, left him with a severe ear injury that required hospitalization.

He further noted that all efforts by him, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and civil society groups to seek redress from the authorities were ignored, prompting his decision to go to court.

?I followed the path of peace, but they neglected every intervention. The judgment today is justice. I will ensure the judgment is enforced to the letter,? Ekibu stated.

He emphasized that the victory was not only personal but also a step toward upholding the dignity of judicial officers and the protection of citizens? rights. Ends

Update news