Assault: Court orders Ebonyi correctional facility to pay lawyer N22m

From Uchenna Inya, Abakaliki

The Abakaliki Division of the Federal High Court has ordered the Nigerian Correctional Service in the state to pay a lawyer, Ekigbo Sampson, the sum of N22 million as damages and costs for assault against him.

The judgment, delivered on Thursday by Justice Hillary Oshomah in suit number FHC/AI/FHR/11/2025, followed fundamental rights enforcement action filed by Ekigbo on January 30, 2025.

The applicant was brutally assaulted on November 26, 2024, at Harriz Filling Station, Abakaliki, by two men identified as Ifeanyi Nwovu and Ogwuma Chidi.

The lawyer, who is also a presiding officer in the Customary Court, filed a suit against the Service, its Comptroller General and the Comptroller in Charge of Ebonyi Command of the Service and the two officers.

In his ruling, Justice Oshomah held that the beating amounted to a gross violation of the applicant’s fundamental human rights, particularly his right to dignity of person as enshrined under Section 34 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

He further issued a perpetual injunction restraining the respondents and their agents from further torturing, intimidating, or molesting the applicant without lawful cause.

The judge also ordered the respondents to tender an unreserved apology to the applicant, to be published in two national dailies within 14 days.

Justice Oshomah further awarded ₦20 million as compensation for the assault and the pain suffered by the applicant.

In addition, the court awarded an additional ₦2 million to cover costs and expenses incurred in the prosecution of the case by the applicants.

The court imposed a 10 per cent per annum post-judgment interest on the cumulative judgment sum should the respondents fail to pay within 14 days.