Follow Us on Google
From Gyang Bere, Jos
A personnel of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCD), Napkur Emmanuel Rinkat, who assaulted Mrs. Joy Awolabi on September 2, at her shop has landed in big trouble.
Rinkat, who battered Mrs Owolabi at Nanmwa Junction, Abbatoir community in Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State for no reason, is now regretting his action. He has been dragged before Justice Boniface Ngyou of Bukuru High Court for violating the fundamental human right of the innocent woman.
The armed security agent had visited a betting shop close to Mrs. Awolabi’s shop at Nanmwa Junction and parked his motorcycle, blocking the entrance into the shop. By so doing, he prevented people access into the shop.
Rinkat returned the following day with an armed colleague and parked the same motorcycle in the same manner, again blocking people from going into the shop. Mrs. Awolabi approached him and requested that he should change the position of his motorcycle to create entrance into the shop but he ignored her and concentrated on his game.
This resulted in exchange of harsh words. When Rinkat lost the betting game, which he had invested heavily on, with hope to make huge returns, he allegedly became wild and violent.
Rinkat allegedly insulted and attacked the woman. He allegedly turned her to a punching bag, threw her on the ground and hit her eye with the butt of his rifle.
Consequently, Mrs. Awolabi dragged Rinkat to court for violating her fundamental human right. But when he was served with the court summon, he made frantic effort to settle the matter out of court but to no avail.
When the matter was mentioned in court, Barr. Adama Gabriel, who stood in for the plaintiff, explained that the first, second and third defendants have been served on October 26. He noted that Rinkat, an employee of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCD), perpetrated the violation of the right of Mrs. Awolabi.
He said: “The second respondent is the commandant, who is the head of the Plateau State command of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps, while the third respondent is the Commandant General, who oversees the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps in Nigeria.
“The second and third defendants serve as those who oversee this organization. So, by law, they can stand in position for the Federal Government as employers of the first respondent who perpetrated the violation of this right.
“We are in court for the enforcement of the fundamental right of Mrs Joy Awolabi. She has, first, the right which is contained in chapter 4 of the 1999 of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended. She has right to her dignity as human person. She has the right to life, and in this instance, that right has been violated.
“She has been dehumanised, she has been tortured which is against the principles of the fundamental human rights. If you take a look at her, you can see her with black eyes, as a result of torture and this has also affected her psychological, mentally and this is against the principles of the Nigerian constitution and even African chartered and human rights, which has been ratified in Nigeria.
“We are coming to court to enforce that right which she enjoys by virtue of chapter four of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to see that government institutions that are meant to protect the citizens are now the ones violating the citizens.
“We are in a nation where individuals tend to be stronger than institutions and we are coming here to say no, institutions should be stronger than individuals and those bad elements who are trying to give bad reputation to institutions should be treated accordingly so that they will know that it is no longer business as usual.
“These issues continue because many people do not give attention to it and they decide to say we leave everything to God and the good thing is that, God has given you the way to fight for your right. The court is a creation of God and it is a creation of an institution so that all of us, at the end, we will meet God for judgement and that judgement will be rewarded accordingly. That is the position the court also takes as far as the law of the nation is concerned.”
Justice Ngyou, who listened to the matter, allowed the ministry of justice, Plateau State, to handle the matter out of court and report back with the resolution on Wednesday, November 30.
It was gathered that the two parties met at the ministry of justice with a view to resolve the issues. Mrs. Awolabi agreed to settle out of court but insisted that the medical bill of over N242,000 which was incurred during her treatment in the hospital must be paid.
They were asked to also pay the sum of N500,000 as compensation for the violation of Mrs. Awolabi fundamental human but the deputy commandant (administration), NSCD, pleaded for time to enable him take a decision before getting back to them.
Meanwhile, the court is expecting the resolution of the mediation between the two parties on November 30.
