The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Nigerian Army to pay the sum of N50 million in damages to Honorable Kpam Jimin Sokpo, a former member of the House of Representatives, for violating his fundamental human rights.

In a judgment delivered on March 11, 2024, Justice Inyang Ekwo ruled that the brutal assault on the ex-lawmaker by men and officers of the Nigerian Army’s Special Operation Unit from the 72 Brigade in Makurdi was real and factual based on evidence presented before the court, including a medical report.

Hon. Sokpo, who represented Buruku Federal Constituency in Benue State during the 10th National Assembly (2019-2023), had sued the Chief of Army Staff and the Nigerian Army, alleging that he was brutalized and illegally detained by military operatives while preparing for the gubernatorial and state assembly elections held on March 18, 2023.

Sokpo’s lawyer, Gwaza L. Shenge, told the court that on the night of March 17, 2023, his client was attacked by unknown men in military fatigue at the Oldbarn Hotels Ltd in Gboko, Benue State. Despite identifying himself as a lawmaker, Sokpo was slapped, beaten, and hit with the butt of a gun, causing serious injuries.

Justice Ekwo, in his judgment, stated, “It is clear from the evidence in this case that the fundamental rights of the Applicant as guaranteed by Sections 34 and 35 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) have been infringed when on the night of 17th March 2023, the Applicant was beaten, brutalized and hit with rifle butts, handcuffed, and detained by the Respondents’ men and officers. Therefore, the case of the Applicant succeeds on the merit.”

The court ordered the Nigerian Army to apologize to the ex-lawmaker and declared the military’s action unlawful.

“An Order is hereby made directing the Respondents jointly and severally to pay the sum of N50,000,000.00 (Fifty Million Naira only) to the Applicant as punitive, exemplary and general damages for the violations of his fundamental right to personal liberty and dignity of the human person,” Justice Ekwo ruled.

In their defense, the Nigerian Army, represented by Omobolanle P. Dada Esq., argued that the Chief of Army Staff is a military appointment at the discretion of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces and that no officer was deployed to brutalize a civilian. However, the court found the evidence presented by Sokpo’s legal team compelling enough to rule in his favor.