Connect with us

News

Illegal arrest of Ex-Enugu Deputy Gov: Court awards N25m cost against Commissioner of Police

Published

on

Monarch, four others remanded for arson
Spread the love
An Enugu High Court has awarded N25 million as damages to former Enugu Deputy Governor, His Excellency Sunday Onyebuchi following his unlawful arrest and detention by the police in the state.

The cost was awarded against the Commissioner of Police (2nd Respondent) and Chidiebere Ijioma, Commander Octopus Squad, Enugu, (1st Respondent).

The former deputy governor and applicant in Suit No. E/1001/2023 had by Motion on Notice dated 21st November 2023 dragged the respondents to court over his unlawful arrest and detention.

He said he was arrested at Garden Avenue of Union Bank on October 25, 2023 where he went to reactivate his ATM card.

He said he was informed that his account was frozen and a “post no debt” flagged on the account and also “arrest upon sight” was also placed on the account.
He said he was subsequently arrested in the most humiliating and embarrassing manner and taken to the Central Police Station (CPS).

On inquiry for his arrest and detention he was told by the DPO that he was acting on the orders of the Commissioner of the Octopus Squad, Area Command Enugu. He was later taken to the Police Area Command, Abakaliki Road.

Maduka College Advert

It was only there that he was informed that the police were investigating one Amulu Abraham Azubuike, a House of Assembly aspirant from Uzu Uwani LGA in the last election on suspicion of fraud.

The police said in the course of investigation they noticed that the suspect transferred the sum of N300,000 to his Union Bank Account thus the freezing of his account and arrest.

Delivering judgement in the case, the presiding Judge Hon Justice C.I Nwobodo also ordered that his Union Bank account be unfreezed.

The Court awarded N25 million against the 1st and 2nd respondents in vindication of the applicant’s fundamental rights.

The court held that: “The first and second respondents have no respect for the status of the applicant nor respect for his personal dignity.

“That the arrest and harassment of the former deputy governor on October 25, 2023 by the police in the most humiliating manner on the orders of the 1st and 2nd respondents is wrongful, unreasonable, oppressive and unconstitutional and amounted to infringement of his fundamental rights.

“That the freezing of his bank account No 0040009884 with Union Bank is unwarranted, arbitrary, oppressive and breached applicants right against compulsory acquisition of his property.’

The court ordered the bank to unfreeze the account forthwith.

It further restrained the Respondents, their agents perpetually from further harassing the applicant or freezing his bank account in connection with this matter.

The Certified true copy of the judgement which was delivered on March 27, 2024 was recently obtained by this medium.

Investigations show that the police was yet to make any payment in respect to the damages neither have they served any notice of appeal.

The Union Bank has however complied to the court order by unfreezing his account.

News

No order to deregister NDC — Kogi High Court clarifies

Published

on

Spread the love

A High Court in Kogi has dismissed as false and misleading, a social media report alleging that it ordered the deregistration of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

A statement issued on Thursday in Lokoja by the Court’s Chief Information Officer, Saqeeb Saeed, said it neither handled nor determined any case relating to the registration or deregistration of the party or any other political party in Nigeria.

It noted that the misleading publication was accompanied by photographs of the Chief Judge of Kogi, Josiah Majebi, and former Governor, Yahaya Bello.

It said that the photographs created what it described as a mischievous impression that the purported decision emanated from the high court.

The court noted that it would ordinarily not have responded to the publication but deemed it necessary to set the records straight.

Maduka College Advert

It added that the report had the potential to undermine the integrity and dignity of the judiciary.

It urged members of the public, particularly content creators, to verify facts before publishing information capable of misleading the public.

The court warned that the dissemination of false information capable of tarnishing the image of judges and the High Court of Justice or other courts under its administrative control would no longer be tolerated.

It, therefore, urged the public to disregard the social media publication, reaffirming its commitment to dispensing justice fairly, diligently and without fear or favour. (NAN)

Continue Reading

News

Peter Obi breaks silence, claims there was an attempt on his life during Benue visit

Published

on

2027: I never said I’d be vice president to anyone – Peter Obi
Peter Obi
Spread the love

Peter Obi, the 2027 presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has alleged that there was an attempt on his life during a planned visit to Benue State in April 2025.

Obi made the claim while speaking at a high-level roundtable discussion themed “Nigeria in 2027 and Beyond”, organised by the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) in Berlin.

The former Anambra State governor said he had to cancel a planned humanitarian outreach to Benue State after the state government issued a cautionary statement advising him not to come.

He expressed disappointment over how the state government handled the proposed visit.

Recounting the episode in Berlin, Obi alleged that there were plans to assassinate him.

Maduka College Advert

“You’re not aware that I wanted to go to Benue and the governor said I can’t come. You’re not aware that the governor said I shouldn’t come, and when I went there, there was a shootout,” Obi stated.

“What else do you need? Do you need somebody to die before you believe it? There was already a shootout when I tried to visit the place. Once they said, ‘Don’t come here.’ What else do you want me to tell you about the attempt on my life?”

Obi drew a connection with his decision to attend the Berlin event despite any potential risks, questioning what more proof was needed beyond the reported shootout.

Continue Reading

News

Court orders Enugu Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital MD, Dr. Unaogu, to vacate office immediately, fines her ₦500,000

Published

on

Spread the love

The National Industrial Court sitting in Abuja has dismissed a stay of execution application filed by Dr Ngozi Unaogu, Medical Director, Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital Enugu.

Unaogu had sought the leave of court to stay the judgement which sacked her from office and ordered the immediate re-instatement of Prof. Monday Igwe to complete his unlawfully terminated tenure in office.

But in a judgement delivered on the application, Justice E.D. Subilim dismissed the stay of execution request as lacking in merit.

The court held that, “By presenting a written address based on completely alien facts concerning medical supplies, the Applicants have failed to address the actual issues in this case, leaving this Court with no coherent legal arguments from their counsel.

“A Court of law does not act on speculative or hopelessly confused processes. See Overseas Construction Co. Nigeria Ltd v. Creek Enterprises Ltd [1985] 3 NWLR (Pt. 13) 407. This gross negligence on the part of the Applicants’ counsel further reinforces the conclusion that this application is completely devoid of merit.

Maduka College Advert

“In the final analysis, I find that the Applicants have failed to establish any special, exceptional, or compelling circumstances to warrant the exercise of this Court’s discretion in their favour.

“The application is incompetent, contemptuous, and a blatant attempt to run out the clock on the Respondent’s reinstatement.”

It dismissed the stay of execution application and awarded N500,000 damage against the application in favour of the respondent.

Speaking to journalists, Barr. Michael Okorie, counsel to Prof. Monday Igwe, said “the implication of the dismissal of the stay of execution bid is that all official actions including issuance of appointment letters and award of contracts by Dr. Ngozi Unaogu since 11th December, 2025 when the judgment was delivered are null and void.”

He further warned members of the public to beware of dealings with Dr. Unaogu to avoid suffering nullity of such illegal actions.

He further explain that the dismissal of the stay of execution bid means the earlier judgment remains operative and enforceable.

The development, according to him, requires President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to direct the Minister of State, Health and Social Welfare to immediately comply with the judgment in order to uphold the rule of law and to prevent further deterioration of the public health organization.

Continue Reading

Trending

Maduka College Advert