Police to pay N100m damages over shooting incident

A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, weekend, affirmed its judgment for the award of N100 million and N10,000 as damages in favour of citizens Nnamdi Anyaogu and Felix Anyaogu, respectively, against the Nigerian Police Force for their illegal shooting and abandonment at Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH.

Trial judge in the matter, Justice Mohammed Idris,  had on 8 March, entered judgement against the Nigerian Police in the sum of N100 million, in the suit by a civil society group, Legal Defence and Assistance Project, LEDAP, against Inspector-General of Police, Commissioner of Police, Lagos State and Constable Otaigbe with Force No. 432336 for the enforcement of fundamental human rights of citizens Felix Anyaogu and Nnamdi Anyaogu.
After the judgment, the Police filed an application seeking to set aside the judgement of the court, claiming that Constable Otaigbe had been dismissed from the Force over the incident and that it (Police) was also not served with the court processes.
LEDAP said: “Nnamdi Anyaogu was shot by Constable Otaigbe, a police officer attached to Ikotun Police Division, Ikotun, Lagos State, when he approached him and other Police officers, who had accosted and handcuffed his younger brother, Felix Anyaogu on October 2, 2009 near his shop at Cele Egbe bus stop area, Ikotun, Lagos, over an allegation of been in possession of two Nigerian passports.”
LEDAP had added that the said Police officers routinely raid the area, operating with a minibus vehicle (popularly known as Danfo), raiding youths and taking them to the station for extortion purposes.
According to the group, “Nnamdi Anyaogu was explaining to the police constable that the passports found with his younger brother belonged to him and his aunt, and that his brother had not committed any offence when the constable ordered him to move away and threatened to shoot him if he did not move away and while he turned to walk away, the Constable fired his AK47 riffle at him thereby shooting him on the right leg and he slumped and lost consciousness.
“Nnamdi Anyaogu was receiving medical treatment at LASUTH, until the hospital authorities evicted him from the hospital on  August 15, 2010 because his family could no longer pay an outstanding N257, 760  hospital bill. The condition of Nnamdi Anyaogu is now very critical as he has been left without treatment till date.”
LEDAP has, meanwhile called on the Inspector General of Police and the Nigerian authorities to comply with the order of the court forthwith and bring Constable Otaigbe and all the police officers with him on that mission to book.

The group also noted that the raiding and extortion of innocent citizens at the Cele Egbe Ikotun area by the police has not decreased after the judgement.

By innocent Anaba