Court orders police to pay Jonathan’s aide Kuku N10m in damages

A Federal High court in Akure has ordered the Nigerian Police to pay a sum of N10m to the former Special Adviser to former President Goodluck Jonathan on Niger Delta affairs, Kingsley Kuku for invading his house early this year.

The court, on Thursday said the police “breached the fundamental rights of the claimant by invading his home and destroying his properties,”

After the invasion of his house located in Arogbo, Ese Odo Local Government Area of Ondo State, in May 2018, Kuku challenged the action of the Police in the court of law.

The claimant, through his counsel, Atima K. A and Co, argued that the illegal invasion of the resident of the former aide by the police was illegal, oppressive and unconstitutional.

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The case, with the suit No FHC/AK/CS/61/18, had Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris; the Ondo State Commissioner of Police, Mr Gbenga Adeyanju; and the Divisional Police Officer of Arogbo Police Station, all as respondents.

The claimant’s counsel said the country’s constitution provides for arrest by the police upon suspicion that someone who committed a crime and such a person must be charged to court within a reasonable period.

Justice Folashade Olubanjo in her ruling ordered the respondents to jointly pay the claimant the sum of N10m, adding that the applicant was unjustly humiliated.

She described the defence by the police as unacceptable to the court.

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