The Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, has awarded ₦10 million in damages against the Nigeria Police Force and a businessman over the alleged violation of the fundamental rights of Prince Toluwaleke Megba.
Justice Ibrahim Ahmad Kala delivered the judgment in Suit No. FHC/L/CS/1306/2024, ordering the police respondents to pay ₦5 million and businessman Kazeem Gbadamosi Eletu to pay an additional ₦5 million.
The case arose from a prolonged land dispute in which Megba maintained that he had already obtained a favourable judgment concerning ownership of the disputed property from the Lagos State High Court in 2017.
He subsequently complained that police officers continued to invite and threaten him with arrest over allegations connected to the same property.
His counsel, D.C. Kemdirim, argued that the repeated police invitations, threats of arrest and alleged invasion of his residence violated his client’s constitutional rights.
The respondents, however, maintained that the police were acting within their investigative powers following a complaint involving allegations of fraud and forgery.
In its judgment, the court held that the respondents’ conduct amounted to an unlawful threat to the applicant’s fundamental rights to dignity and personal liberty under Sections 34(1) and 35(1) of the Constitution.
The court restrained the police authorities and the businessman from further harassing, intimidating, arresting or detaining Megba over the disputed property.
Although the applicant had sought substantially higher damages, the court awarded ₦10 million.
The decision reinforces an important principle of Nigerian law: the police are empowered to investigate crime, but their investigative powers cannot be used as instruments for resolving private civil and commercial disputes.
Source: Tribune – Court awards ₦10m damages against police and businessman.
Related report: Court Bars Police From Harassing Businessman Over Civil Dispute, Orders SUV Returned.
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