Lawyer slams suit on Nigeria Police, Shoprite, Technocrime for attempt to kill him, demands N500 million
A Kano-based lawyer, Alhaji Ibrahim, has approached a Kano State High Court to enforce his Fundamental Human Rights against the Nigeria Police Force, Shoprite Holdings Ltd, Technocrime Security Ltd and seven others, demanding N500 million for beating and attempting to kill him.
In an Originating Motion filed on Wednesday at the state High Court headquarters, the lawyer requested to enforce his “fundamental rights to life, dignity of the human person, liberty, right to remain silent, right to consult with a lawyer of his choice, freedom of movement and right to practice profession …”
The applicant prayed for the following reliefs against the Respondents jointly and severally:
“A declaration that the beating, arrest, degrading treatment and attempt to kill the Applicant by 4th, 5th, 6th and men of the 10th Respondents at the at the 7th, 8th and 9th premises, Zoo Road, Kano on 22nd December, 2021 is unconstitutional and a breach of the Applicant’s rights to dignity, liberty, freedom of movement and a threat to the Applicant’s right to life.
“A declaration that the detention of the Applicant by the 4th, 5th and 6th Respondents along with the men of the 10th Respondent on the 22nd December, 2021 for the period of 1 hour from 2:30 – 3:30pm at a room within the 9th Respondent’s premises and his subsequent detention at Kwalli Police Station, Kano by 1st to 6th from 4pm – 6pm on 22nd December, 2021 for no justifiable reason is unconstitutional and a breach of the Applicant’s rights to dignity, liberty, freedom of movement.
“A declaration that the prevention of the Applicant to consult with a lawyer of his choice, attempt to force statement out of the Applicant, attempt to make the Applicant sign a blank statement sheet, harassing and molesting the Applicant by the officers of the 1st and 2nd Respondents at Kwalli Police State, Kano on 22nd December, 2021 is unconstitutional and a breach of the Applicant’s right to dignity, right to remain silent and right to consult with a lawyer of his choice.
“An order directing the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Respondents to take disciplinary action against the 4th, 5th and 6th Respondents.
“An order of this Honourable Court directing the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Respondents to compel the 4th, 5th and 6th Respondents to submit themselves to any recognized government hospital for mandatory psychiatric examination to determine their mental fitness and suitability to continue serving in the 1st Respondent and a copy of the result of the psychiatric examination deposited in the Registry of this Honourable Court.
“An order directing the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th and 10th Respondents to jointly or severally forthwith pay the Applicant the sum of 500,000,000,000 (Five Hundred Million Naira Only) as compensatory and exemplary damages for the illegal and unconstitutional violation of the Applicant’s rights.
“An order of this Honourable Court directing the Respondents to severally tender written apology to publish in two national dailies circulating in Kano State.
“Cost of filing and prosecuting this Suit.”
In a 39-paragraped affidavit deposed to by the applicant, he said men of the Nigeria Police and some private security operatives at Shoprite in Kano held his throat and “squashed it so hard,” while punching him in the eyes wanting to render him blind, adding that one of them was chanting that “he was going to kill me and nothing will happen; that he has killed more than ten persons before and nothing happened.”
The applicant said trouble started when he was denied access to the premises of Shoprite by the combined forces of the police and the private security guards, claiming that as he was trying to call the head of security at the Shoprite, a police officer attempted to remove the key to his ride.
He said when he demanded why his key was being removed, the police officer slapped him, and hell was let loose on him afterwards. He was forced into a room and mercilessly beaten up.
He said he was later taken to a police station where officers attempted to force him to sign a blank paper, while denying his lawyer colleagues from accessing him.
He acknowledged in his deposition that Divisional Police Officer at the police station later came in to intervene, chastising his officers for the maltreatment meted to him (the applicant) and ordering that he should be promptly taken to the hospital for immediate medical attention.
Counsel to the applicant, U. U. Eteng and U. U. Fari argued that the sanctity of human life and dignity should not be allowed to be degraded through impunity. They asked for timely deliberation of the matter in order for justice to be served.
SOURCE: Nigerian Sketch
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