Court Orders Nigerian Police to Pay N1million For Breach Of Human Rights

Its not everyday we hear stories of a citizen receiving justice after being unlawfully detained or unjustly treated by the Nigerian Police, something they seem to be experts in as opposed to their main duty...


One year after being unlawfully detained without trial for seven days by the Nigerian Police an Abuja resident by the name Sani has finally received justice after a High court in Abuja ordered the Nigerian Police to pay N1million to him.

According to reports provided by the The counsel to Sani in 2014 the victim had sold a piece of land in Abuja to a Paul Udofia, the land in question was later revoked by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) later in 2014, which prompted Udofia to report to the police.

He said Udofia alleged that the applicant, the owner of Grow Venture Ltd sold a fake land to him and failed to address his complaints. According to the counsel, Sani explained that he bought the land from the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) before the FCTA began the revocation.

Sani further explained to Udofia that plot and estate owners in the affected area had held series of meetings with the then FCT Minister, Bala Mohammed.He also told Udofia that the minister promised to reallocate another plot to him and the others and urged him to exercise patience, rather than exercising patience, Udofia reported to the police.

Upon his arrest Sani explained the matter to the police and pleaded for administrative bail, but the Police detained him for two days. The counsel also said that the matter was transferred to the Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) where Sani was detained for five days.

After a year of battling in court with the Nigeria Police the High Court has ordered the Nigerian Police to pay N1million to Mr Sani for damages as well as for the breach of fundamental human rights.