A N50 million lawsuit has been filed at the Federal High Court in Lagos, accusing top police officials and Stanbic IBTC Plc of severe human rights violations.
The plaintiffs, led by Eugene Okwudili Okonkwo and other family members, allege that they were unlawfully arrested, detained, harassed, and subjected to various forms of intimidation by police officers at the instigation of Stanbic IBTC Plc.
The applicants, represented by Okwudili Okonkwo & Co., include Eugene Okwudili Okonkwo, Chidinma Daniel Okonkwo, Chukwudi Emmanuel Okonkwo, and others, who listed the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, Lagos State Commissioner of Police, two police officers, Ahejo Tony Ikechukwu and Victor Effiong, and Stanbic IBTC as the 1st to 5th Respondents.
The lawsuit, filed under suit No: FHC/4CS/1638/24, seeks N50 million in general damages for what the applicants describe as illegal and unconstitutional actions, including the unlawful arrest and detention of Chukwudi Emmanuel Okonkwo. The applicants also seek an order restraining further harassment and a written apology from the respondents for infringing their fundamental human rights.
Background to the Case
The case centres around an incident on August 6, 2024, when Chukwudi Okonkwo was allegedly intercepted by unknown men while driving to work. These men, who later identified themselves as employees of Stanbic IBTC, forcibly took him to the bank’s operational headquarters in Ilupeju, Lagos, where he was accused of stealing money from the bank.
He was held in confinement at the bank until late in the evening and was then taken to the Kam Selem police building, where he was handed over to the Nigerian Police.
Chukwudi denied him access to legal representation and communication with his family throughout his detention. He was later forced to transfer money from his personal bank accounts to an account provided by his captors. Subsequently, he was taken to the Tinubu Magistrate Court and remanded in Ikoyi prison.
Chukwudi’s ordeal, which included physical discomfort and emotional distress, resulted in his being hospitalized for high malaria and undergoing a tooth extraction after his eventual release on bail. Despite the court proceedings, the plaintiffs allege that their bank accounts remain frozen and continue to face harassment from the respondents.
IBTC: Relief Sought by the Plaintiffs
In the lawsuit, the plaintiffs are seeking:
- A declaration that the arrest, detention, and harassment were unconstitutional and a violation of their rights.
- N50 million in general damages for the breach of their fundamental rights.
- A perpetual injunction restraining the respondents from further infringing on their rights.
- A written apology from the respondents.
- A retraction of all defamatory mail sent by Stanbic IBTC to financial institutions describing the plaintiffs as fraudulent.
Chukwudi further claimed that the actions of the police, instigated by Stanbic IBTC, had left him and his family in a state of fear and trauma, urging the court to provide them protection from further violation of their rights.
This lawsuit reflects the broader concern about the misuse of police power and the influence of corporate entities in Nigeria, particularly in cases where individuals allege they are being wrongfully targeted.
The case is currently pending before the Federal High Court in Lagos.
