The Nigeria Police has been ordered to pay family of the late auto mechanic, Chima Ikwunado, the sum of N75,000,000.
A Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt awarded the compensation against the police in a fundamental Human Rights suit filed by the family of the deceased.
The family of Ikwunado had instituted a fundamental human rights action against the Inspector General of Police, Rivers State Commissioner of Police, former E-Crack Commander in Rivers State, SP Benson Adetuyi, and 4 dismissed police officers.
The trial Judge, Justice S. I Mark, in her judgment on Friday, granted all the reliefs sought by counsel to the plaintiff and fined the Police the sum of 75,000,000 for damages.
Ikwunado, who was an auto-mechanic, was reported to have died in the custody of the police from severe torture in 2019.
He was arrested and tortured alongside 4 of his apprentices, Victor Ogbonna, Osaze Friday, Ifeanyi Osuji and Ifeanyi Onyekwere, by men of the now defunct E-Crack Unit, attached to the Mile 1 Police Division, while test-driving two cars they were repairing along Olu-Obasanjo Road in PortHarcourt.
They were charged with robbery and cultism. The case had elicited criticisms from several quarters.
Speaking to newsmen outside the courtroom, counsel to the family of the late Ikwunado, Princess Lawrence said, they were happy with the judgment even though they are aware that no amount of money can bring back the life of the victim.
“We are happy, although we expected a higher award for damages. Like I said in court, no amount of monetary damages will bring the late Chima Ikwunado back to life. But we thank God for what the court awarded today.” She said.
The plaintiff had demanded N14,000,000,000 for damages.
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