SIRENS can be expensive as Mrs. Endurance Odubu, wife of the Deputy Governor of Edo State has discovered. A Federal High Court in Benin City ordered her to pay N12 million as damages to Captain Olorunduyilemi Stephen, an officer with the 4th Brigade of the Nigerian Army.
In a role reversal of the military molesting civilians, security operatives attached to Mrs. Odubu, dragged Captain Stephen out of his car, beat him, and detained him at Mrs. Odubu’s residence. The incident took place in January last year.
Stephen sought the following from the court – N502 million as damages, an unreserved apology from the defendant to be published in five national dailies and broadcast on three electronic media.
Justice Adamu Hobon, in his judgment, ordered Mrs. Odubu to tender an apology to the army officer in three electronic media and two national dailies.
He stated that sirens were for emergency. Approved users were fire fighters, ambulances and top government officials.
Mrs. Odubu did not qualify under any of the categories. Justice Hobon wondered why the defendant took the law into her hands. If Stephen had committed an offence, the judge noted, he should have been charged to a competent court.
The judge ruled that the beating of the army officer was unlawful. He awarded N2 million as special damages to cover medical expenses and his damaged car. For illegal detention and infringing on his fundamental human rights, the court awarded Stephen N10 million.
In a role reversal of the military molesting civilians, security operatives attached to Mrs. Odubu, dragged Captain Stephen out of his car, beat him, and detained him at Mrs. Odubu’s residence. The incident took place in January last year.
Stephen sought the following from the court – N502 million as damages, an unreserved apology from the defendant to be published in five national dailies and broadcast on three electronic media.
Justice Adamu Hobon, in his judgment, ordered Mrs. Odubu to tender an apology to the army officer in three electronic media and two national dailies.
He stated that sirens were for emergency. Approved users were fire fighters, ambulances and top government officials.
Mrs. Odubu did not qualify under any of the categories. Justice Hobon wondered why the defendant took the law into her hands. If Stephen had committed an offence, the judge noted, he should have been charged to a competent court.
The judge ruled that the beating of the army officer was unlawful. He awarded N2 million as special damages to cover medical expenses and his damaged car. For illegal detention and infringing on his fundamental human rights, the court awarded Stephen N10 million.
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