Court slams Delta Police Commissioner, Others with ₦30m fine for rights violation

A High Court in Asaba, Delta State, has ordered the State Commissioner of Police, a court official, and four others to jointly pay ₦30 million in damages to a film decorator, Mr. Tobechukwu Cyril Ananweude, for violating his fundamental rights.

Justice Onome Marshal-Umukoro, delivering judgment on Wednesday, ruled that Ananweude’s arrest and detention over a breach of contract was unconstitutional, unlawful, and null and void. The court also directed the respondents to issue a written apology to the decorator and barred them from further harassing or detaining him.

The case stemmed from a contract Ananweude entered into with Chidiebere Udaya in January 2024 to furnish a property in Asaba for ₦10.3 million. He alleged that after Udaya paid ₦8 million in installments, disagreements arose due to design changes and delayed payments.

Udaya allegedly resorted to threats and used his connections to have Ananweude arrested twice in April and May 2024.

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Ananweude claimed he was detained under duress and forced to sign an agreement, all while incurring personal losses to keep the project going.

In the suit marked DTHC/ASB/FR/48/2024, the respondents included Udaya, Mrs. Mordi Juliana (a court staff), the Commissioner of Police, CSP Rex Enwelikwu, SP Ruth Essang, and Inspector Ifeyinwa Uwakina. The respondents denied wrongdoing, with police claiming they acted on a criminal complaint. Juliana called the allegations against her false and malicious.

Justice Marshal-Umukoro, however, found the arrests to be a violation of Ananweude’s rights to liberty, dignity, and fair hearing. Ananweude’s lawyer, A.F. Brideba, hailed the ruling as “well-considered and fair,” adding that it should serve as a warning against the abuse of citizens’ rights.