Tina Amanda
A Federal High Court in Port Harcourt has awarded the sum of seventy-five million naira as damages in the murder case of late Chima Ikwunado against the Nigerian Police.
In the matter, a fundamental human rights suit filed by the family of the Late Auto Motor Mechanic, Ikwunado, sought justice against the Inspector General of, Attorney General of the Federation, Commissioner of Police Rivers State, former E-Crack Commander, SP Benson Adetuyi, and four dismissed Police officers, for the gruesome murder of their son by E-Crack unit, at Mile one Police station, Diobu, Port Harcourt.
The trial Judge, Justice S.I Mark, first granted the preliminary objection filed by the counsel of the 3rd Respondent, the Attorney General of the Federation, asking for the removal of the Attorney as a Party in the matter before proceeding to grant the prayers of the applicants.
In her judgment, Justice Mark granted all the relief sought by the plaintiff’s counsel and awarded the sum of seventy-five million naira as damages to be paid by the respondent.
In an interview with our correspondent, consel to the family of the late Chima Ikwunado, Princess Lawrence-Iroajanma, said they are happy with the judgment even if they know that no amount of money can bring back the life of the victim.
“We are happy though we expected a higher amount though no amount of monetary damages can equate to the loss of Chima Ikwunado. We sought the fundamental right breech through his son’s master Emmanuel Ahamefula Chima Ikwunado, and the court granted all our requests.
“This judgement will help to call the Police to order because we are in court for the torture to death of late Chima Ikwunado. We are also aware that the Police officers involved are already undergoing trial.”
On his part, Anthony Ikwunado, the elder brother to the deceased, described the judgment as a welcome development, revealing that the death of his younger brother has created a lot of unreplaceable vacuum in the family.
“We are happy with the judgement justice has taken its cause; his corpse has been in the mortuary for more than three years; they killed him and dumped him in the morgue, and today justice has been served.
“Since the death of my late younger brother, his wife and child are being taken care of by OPM Church. We are not happy about his death because its affecting every family member.”
Recall that four dismissed police officers, Ayogu Fidelis, Eke Chibuzor, Rose Georgewill and Egbunefo Felix, who are currently facing trial at the state High Court Port Harcourt, had on 23 December 2019, at the Office of Eagle Crack at mile one Diobu Port Harcourt unlawfully tortured and murdered Chima Ikwunado by hanging him and inflicted injuries on other four victims.
