Court orders police to pay N50m compensation to Abiola’s wife for rights violation

The Abuja High Court, Gudu, has directed the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) to pay N50 million to Prof. Zainab Duke Abiola, the wife of the late Chief MKO Abiola, as compensation for violating her fundamental rights. Presided over by Justice Modupe Osho-Adebiyi, the court also mandated the police to issue a public apology to Abiola’s wife in two national newspapers.

This legal outcome stems from a fundamental human rights enforcement suit filed by Prof. Abiola against the Inspector General of Police, the NPF, Inspector Teju Moses, and Engineer Ibrahim, the son of former IGP Usman Akali Baba. Prof. Abiola had alleged that police officers unlawfully invaded her Abuja residence in 2022, arresting her while she was in her nightgown and detaining her without trial for three days. She asserted that she was subjected to torture, constituting a severe violation of her constitutional rights.

While seeking N500 million in damages in her suit, the respondents challenged its validity, denying knowledge of Prof. Abiola and labeling her accusations as false. Despite these challenges, Prof. Abiola presented documentary evidence, including her appointment as a Chief Legal Consultant (CLC) by the police.

Justice Osho-Adebiyi, in her judgment, affirmed the infringement of Prof. Abiola’s rights by the police, leading to the court’s decision to award her N50 million as compensation and order a public apology.

This ruling serves as a notable acknowledgment of the breach of fundamental human rights and underscores the importance of maintaining legal and ethical standards in law enforcement practices. According to Justice Osho-Adebiyi, the detention of Prof. Abiola without arraignment and the arrest conducted while she was in her nightgown were deemed violations of her right to personal liberty and personal dignity, respectively. The court awarded the compensation against the 1st, 2nd, and 4th respondents and ordered a public apology in two national newspapers as stipulated by constitutional provisions.