Alleged Rights Violation: Man Sues IG, Others for N100m

An employee of Uccas Resources Limited, Prince Chigozie Amajuoyi, has sued Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba, and others for allegedly violating his rights.

He told Federal High Court in Lagos he was unlawfully arrested, detained and brutalised for 11 days.

Other respondents are an inspector attached to Force Criminal Investigation Department at Alagbon, Samuel Tablajojo Iyucunie; Ecobank, and ETI Specialised Resolution Company Limited, who he alleged instigated his arrest.

Amajuoyi seeks a restraining order to prevent the police from further arresting him and his surety.

He is praying for consequential damages of N100 million from the defendants for the alleged violation of his rights.

Amajuoyi asked the court to declare that his arrest, brutalisation and detention from March 19 to 30, 2020, without being charged to court or released on administrative bail “was unwarranted, illegal, and an infringement of his rights.”

The plaintiff, through his lawyer, Charles Ugwuanyi, alleged he was severely brutalised by a team, led by Inspector Iyucunie, who stormed his office on March 19, 2020.

He said they arrested him for not producing the managing director of his company, Christian UKata, who he had stood surety for.

In a supporting affidavit, Amajuoyi claimed he was never given any prior notice to produce his boss and was surprised when police officers came to his office to arrest him.

He claimed he was severely brutalised with blood gushing out of his eyes and other parts of his body before he was bungled into a waiting van, taken to Alagbon and detained for 11 days without medical attention.

The plaintiff claimed he was threatened by Inspector Iyucunie, while his surety was made to pay N100,000 bedoee he was granted bail.

Since being released from detention, Amajuoyi claimed he has been visiting hospital to attend to the serious health challenges occasioned by the brutality he suffered during and after his arrest.

When the matter came up on September 27 before Justice Awogboro Olawunmi, the court heard the inspector general and Iyucunie were yet to file their responses despite being served.

However, the third and fourth respondents were represented by their counsel.

After the judge was satisfied all parties had been served with originating processes, he adjourned till November 3, for hearing.