The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has awarded N10 million in damages against the Inspector-General of Police, IGP, and the Lagos State Commissioner of Police for violation of the fundamental rights of several peaceful protesters.
The suit was filed by applicants who participated during the
fourth anniversary of the #ENDSARS peaceful memorial procession.
Delivering the judgment on Thursday, Justice M. Kakaki held
that the applicants were unjustly harassed and their rights infringed upon.
The suit was filed against the police by Hassan Taiwo
Soweto, Uadiale Kingsley, Ilesanmi Kehinde, Osopale Adeseye, Olamilekan Sanusi,
and Miss Osugba Blessing.
Others were Kayode Agbaje, Michael Adedeji, Jennifer Rita
Obiora, Orunsola Oluremi, Seyi Akinde, Akin Okunowon, Ugochukwu Prince, Aisha
Omolara, Thomas Abiodun Olamide, Ogbu Obinna Ferdinald, Aghedo Kehinde Stephen,
Duronike Olawale, Isaac Obasi, Funmilayo Jolade Ajayi, Gideon Adeyemi, and
Afeez Suleiman.
Education Rights Campaign (ERC), Take It Back Movement
(TIB), and Campaign for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) were also part of
the suit.
According to the court, the police have constitutional
powers to enforce laws but such powers must be exercised in accordance with
democratic principles and the rule of law.
The judge affirmed that the applicants were entitled to the
constitutional right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association as
contained in the Nigerian Constitution.
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