The Federal High Court, Benin, Edo State, has awarded N850,000 damages against the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and its officer, Mr Chickson Iregbeghen, who humiliated, dehumanised and brutalised Erasmus Ikhide in 2015, at his polling unit at his home town of Eruere, Owan West, Edo State.
In the application of enforcement of Fundamental Human Rights argued by popular Benin based lawyer and human rights activist, Douglas Ogbankwa, the presiding judge, Justice (Prof) A. Chuka Obiozor, in his judgment which was delivered yesterday, reprimanded the (NSCDC) and its agent, Iregbeghen, over arrogance of power and extreme barbarity for dehumanising and debasing a law abiding citizen, and for violating his human sanctity as well as trampling on his fundamental human rights.
In 2015, Ikhide instituted a case of fundamental human rights over abuse of his rights against the (NSCDC) and its agent, whom the court pronounced over stepped their bounds in attacking the applicant on election day. Addressing the press after the judgment, Ikhide said, however long it takes, justice has been served in the matter.
“I am glad that justice has been serviced in this case in the long run after eight gruelling years of judicial stagnation and paralysis.
But thanks to Hon. Justice (Prof) A. Chuka Obiozor, who trashed this case for three days, spending several hours each sitting, an indication of a judge who knows his onions by looking at the case with the judicial imaginary scale of Justice.
“This judgement, however long it took, has reinforced my belief in the nation’s judicial system that justice, ultimately, is the plank upon which humanity revolves, and that vandals in security uniform would always have their days in the sun.
“I have established a foundation named Centre for Law Enforcement Justice (CLEJ), the motto is Justice for the Weak and the Vulnerable, and this is to be a landmark to fight injustice in law enforcement for generations yet upon,” Ikhide said.