Court fines police N310m over lawyer’s detention

A Delta State High Court sitting in Ozoro has imposed fine of N310 million on the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and its officers for unlawful arrest, harassment, and detention of a lawyer, Otedjere Jude.

In a judgement delivered by Justice E. O. Odebala, the court awarded N300 million as compensation against the police for unlawful arrest and detention of the lawyer from September 29 to September 30, 2025.

The court also awarded N10 million as cost of litigation in favour of the applicant.

In the certified true copy of the judgement obtained on Thursday, January 5, 2026, the case arose from a fundamental rights enforcement application filed by the lawyer against the police.

The lawyer approached the court through an originating motion filed on Nov. 28, 2025, pursuant to Sections 33(1), 34, 35, 37, 40, 41 and 46(1 & 2) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), Article 6 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules, 2009.

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He challenged his arrest and detention at Kwale Police Station in September 2025, describing the action of the police as unconstitutional and a violation of his fundamental rights.

Justice Odebala, therefore, held that the actions of the police amounted to a gross violation of the applicant’s rights.

“The applicant did not commit any offence to warrant the respondent to arrest and detain the applicant or take any step that is inconsistent with the fundamental rights of the applicant as guaranteed and protected under the 1999 Constitution,” the judge said.

The Star