A Federal High Court sitting at Uyo, Akwa Ibom State has awarded monetary damages of 1 Million Naira against one Ikechukwu Precious Chukwurah and the Nigerian Police Force for unlawful detention and breach of the fundamental Rights of Martins Okon George, a Forex Trader.

Delivering his Judgment in Suit No. FHC/UY/FHR. 175/2020 between Martins Okon George versus Ikechukwu Precious Chukwurah and 4 ors on the 25th January, 2021, the presiding Judge, Honourable Justice Fatun Riman condemned the impunity of the Police and their wanton disregard for Constitutional provisions regarding the modus operandi of the Force as contained in Section 35 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 and other relevant Legislations.
The Applicant had approached the Court sometime in October, 2020 through his Counsel, Paul Alobi Nyambi, Esq. of Access Law House, Uyo, seeking Injunctive and Declaratory reliefs against the 1st Respondent who instigated the other Respondents to dabble into a matter outside the scope of the Police Act.

The 1st Respondent had a Forex investment with the Applicant which market trends incurred losses. Rather than resort to ADR or civil remedies against the Applicant, the 1st Respondent wrote a spurious petition against the Applicant alleging that the Applicant obtained his money by false pretenses – An allegation that was not substantiated by him.

The Applicant was unlawfully detained for 13 days without being charged to Court and was forced to sign an Agreement to refund the 1st Respondent’s investment money.

Reacting to the Judgment of the court, his Counsel, Paul Nyambi, Esq. commended the learned Judge for the erudite and timely Judgment against impunity by the Police. Counsel further opined that the Judgment is an indication that the Court is no respecter of persons, principalities and powers.