They are to pay Miss Abigail Ige N1milion for the beating she received from three policemen in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital.
Miss Ige, a Higher National Diploma (HND) student in the School of Science and Computer Studies (Micro Biology option) of the Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti, was assaulted by three policemen attached to a police post inside the market.
Justice M.O. Abodunde of the State High Court ordered the police to pay an additional N8,490 Miss Ige incurred for her treatment at the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (ESUTH), Ado-Ekiti, where she spent five days.
According to the judgment, the victim was in the market that day to buy fingerlings for her Biology practicals.
She was accosted by one of the policemen, Femi Oluwajuyitan, who asked what she had inside her bag. The policeman insisted she must be searched in the open to enable people see all that went on.
Two other policemen joined Oluwajuyitan to beat up the student for her "stubbornness". She was beaten up for asking to be searched in the open.
Oluwajuyitan was reportedly dismissed from the police.
The judge averred that the dismissal of the second respondent (Oluwajuyitan), following the incident, showed that he actually beat up the victim.
Justice Abodunde said: "I hereby declare that the agony, pain, suffering, inconvenience and the trauma, which the applicant has been subjected to by the second to the fourth respondents, agents of the first respondent, is a violation of the applicant's rights to personal dignity as guaranteed by Section 34 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999.
“The respondents are hereby ordered to pay N8,490 as exemplary damages. They are also ordered to pay N1 million as compensation for the inhuman treatment she suffered in the hands of the second to the fourth respondents’ agents of the first respondent.”
A coalition of lawyers, who represented Miss Ige, addressed reporters after the verdict.
They include Oluwaseyi Ojo of the Directorate of Citizens Right, Ekiti State Ministry of Justice; the Chairperson of the state chapter of International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Mrs. Toyin Ajibulu; Rita Ilevbare of Community Law Centre; Mrs. Funmi Bello of the New Initiative for Social Development; As'mau Baderinwa of Legal Aid Council; and Olajumoke Olute of Obafemi Adewale & Co.
The lawyers hailed the judge for straightening the case, despite efforts from the defence.
They had sued the Police Commissioner (first respondent) and the policemen - Femi Olujuyayetan, Gbenga Babalola and Dupe Emonigbede - seeking N50million compensation for Miss Ige.
The lawyers, led by Ms Ojo, described the verdict as a landmark.
She said: "With the judgment, it is clear that the nation's judiciary still maintains its position as the last hope of the commoners."
via The Nation
http://www.thenationonlineng.net/2011/index.php/news/50757-police-to-pay-n1m-for-beating-up-student.html
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