The Federal High Court sitting in Ibadan has awarded the sum
of N10 million compensation against the Nigeria Police in favour of the family
of one Mr. Alimi Hakeem, a commercial motorist who was shot dead by a police
officer in Saki over N100 check point bribe.
The court also ordered the Inspector General of Police,
Ibrahim Idris to investigate the unlawful killing and bring the culprit to
book.
The late Hakeem, popularly called Sakilayewa was allegedly shot
dead by one Insp. Ifeayin Nbu on March 9, 2016 along Saki-Okere International
Market road, Saki, Oyo State.
Citing various portions of the constitution to support his
judgment, Justice Nathaniel Ayo-Emmanuel held that everyone had right to life,
adding that deliberate killing of any individual in the society was against the
law.
He added that Nbu’s refusal to contradict or challenge any
of the arguments and exhibits tendered against him otherwise meant that the
court shall accept them as the truth.
“The applicant in this case has proved beyond reasonable
doubt that Insp Ifeayin Nbu, the fifth respondent committed the crime because
he did nothing to defend himself despite the fact that he was aware of this
case.
“There is no evidence before the court contradicting the
facts presented by the applicant in the matter.
“I therefore believe same to be the true reflection of what
happened before life was sniffed out of the deceased.
“It is evidence from the record before this court that the
applicant’s father has three wives and several children who are his dependants.
“For this and many other reasons, a sum of N10 million is
hereby awarded to the family of the deceased.
“The Inspector General of Police (IGP) is therefore directed
to investigate this matter and bring the said Nbu to justice,” the Judge
stated.
Ayo-Emmanuel also indicted the first to the fourth
respondents; that is, the Nigeria Police Force, Oyo State Commissioner of
Police, Deputy
Commissioner of Police and Divisional Police Headquarter at
Saki for been responsible for the action of the fifth respondent, Nbu.
The Judge noted that the submissions of the first to fourth
respondents were discountenanced due to the fact that they were not filed
within the time stipulated by law.
Afeez Oluwaseun Hakeem, son of the deceased had instituted
the suit bordering on the fundamental human right enforcement of his father to
life against the respondents.
Afeez had prayed the court to award a cash sum of
N500million as compensation against the unlawful killing of his father.
He had earlier in his petition described the circumstances
that led to his father’s killing by the police officer as very ugly.
He stated that his late father had stopped at the check
point to give Nbu the N100 which commercial motorists usually give to the
police.
He further stated that the Inspector chased after his father
and shot him in the head after he refused to give him another N100.
Mr Michael Ojeah, counsel to the Nigeria Police, Oyo State
Command had saluted the judgment, describing it as well deserved.
However, counsel to the plaintiff was not in court and could
not be reached for comment.
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