Court resumes garnishee proceeding against police on Wednesday

Justice Simon Amobeda of the Federal High Court in Kano will, on Wednesday, resume hearing in a garnishee proceeding against the police.

This proceeding follows a previous court order mandating the police to pay N10 million in damages to Auwalu Abdullahi Alfa and Malam Abdullahi Alfa for the violation of their fundamental human rights as protected by the constitution.

The applicants were reportedly arrested, detained, and subjected to torture by the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) in Kano in 2013 under the leadership of SP Yusuf Kolo.

Unfortunately, the 3rd applicant, Hassan Abdullahi Alfa, passed away in the hospital due to injuries sustained from torture while in police custody.

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The police challenged the initial judgment at the Court of Appeal, which subsequently granted N50 million in damages against the police, though the applicants had originally sought N100 million in damages through a cross-appeal.

To enforce the Court of Appeal’s judgment and obtain the awarded compensation, the applicants have initiated a garnishee proceeding at the Federal High Court in Kano.

Justice Fatun Riwan, who initially delivered the judgment in 2014, emphasised the need for police investigations to be conducted in line with constitutional principles, avoiding arbitrary or reckless actions that result in torture or harm to suspects.