Esther Oseyiomon
A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court has awarded N12 million in damages against the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) for the unlawful arrest, detention and alleged assault of THE WHISTLER reporter, Kasarahchi Aniagolu.
Justice Bello Kawu, who delivered the judgment on Wednesday, held that the police violated the journalist’s constitutional rights following her arrest on February 21, 2024, during a police operation targeting suspected illegal bureau de change operators in Wuse Zone 4, Abuja.
Aniagolu had approached the court after alleging that police officers abducted her, assaulted her, detained her for about eight hours, seized her mobile phone and deleted photographs stored on the device. She also accused the officers of subjecting her to degrading treatment while in custody. The suit, filed by Seasons Law Firm on October 25, 2024, sought N100 million in damages.
In his judgment, Justice Kawu ruled that the treatment meted out to the journalist amounted to a violation of her right to dignity as guaranteed under Section 34 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). The court further held that her arrest and detention at the Guzape Police Station infringed on her constitutional right to personal liberty under Section 35 of the Constitution.
The court consequently awarded N10 million as damages for the violation of her fundamental rights and an additional N2 million as the cost of litigation.
The judgment is expected to add to growing calls for greater respect for journalists’ rights and adherence to constitutional safeguards by law enforcement agencies while carrying out their duties.