An Akwa Ibom State High Court sitting in Uyo has awarded N2.5 million as damages against one Police Inspector, Mbuk-iduhe Isaac and one Ndifreke Ekponobong for unlawful arrest and detention of an applicant, Emem Patrick.
Isaac was charged to court over the illegal arrest and detention of Patrick over the ownership of property said to be owned by her father.
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Justice Ntong Ntong in his judgement said the inspector breached the fundamental rights of Emem Patrick.
Justice Ntong argued that though the complainant had the legal right to report to the police, in carrying out such constitutional duties, it was not permitted to jettison the rule of law.
He held that Isaac surrendered himself to Ekponobong as a willing tool for the psychological torture and harassment of the applicant to intimidate her to succumb and relinquish the said property situated at No. 6, Library Avenue, Ikot Ekpene.
He also ordered Ekponobong to compensate the applicant with N1m.
The judge held that the arrest and detention of the applicant in a civil matter to the extent that he personally supervised the demolition of her place of business, in an attempt to assist Ekponobong to recover her alleged father’s property could not be tolerated.
