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From Uchenna Inya, Abakaliki
A Federal High Court sitting in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital, has ordered the Neighbourhood Security Watch (NSW), an outfit established by the state government for internal security, and the state government to pay N10 million in damages to a man, Oko Daniel, for unlawful infringement of his fundamental rights.
Oko was arrested on November 11, 2024, by the security outfit and detained till December 13, 2024, for an alleged offence.
He instituted a suit against the security outfit and joined the state government in the matter as one of the respondents.
Eluum Emmanuel was also one of the respondents in suit no. FHC/AI/FHR/18/2025.
Delivering judgment on the matter, the presiding judge, Justice Hilary Oshomah, ruled that the plaintiff’s arrest and detention by the security outfit were unconstitutional and a violation of his right to personal liberty as enshrined in Section 35(1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended.
The judge averred that the physical abuse and maltreatment endured by the plaintiff in the hands of the Neighbourhood Security Watch were unconstitutional and violated his dignity, as affirmed in Section 34(1)(a) of the Constitution.
The court ruled that Eluum Emmanuel, a police officer attached to the Neighbourhood Security Watch, incited other respondents to exceed their legal authority by engaging in activities related to debt collection, which contravened established laws.
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The court highlighted that Eluum was in the habit of using his position to intimidate, extort and harass members of the public.
Justice Oshomah ordered the respondents to return N100,000 unlawfully extorted from the plaintiff in exhibit AGA1 & 2 submitted during proceedings and attached to affidavits.
The judge lamented violations of fundamental rights in the state and encouraged individuals facing such situations not to hesitate in seeking legal recourse, affirming that the courts exist as a bastion of justice for all citizens.
He further imposed a cost of N500,000 against the state government in favour of the applicant and ordered that 10 per cent interest would start accruing on the amount starting one week from the day of the judgment.
The court restrained the Neighbourhood Security Watch and the state government from further arrest, humiliation, detention or other forms of misconduct against the plaintiff.
Counsel for the plaintiff, Obinna Nwafor, hailed the judgment, describing it as a significant victory for the protection of individual rights in the state.
