An Abuja Federal High Court has ordered the Nigeria Police Force to pay ₦10 million as compensation to two #EndSARS protesters over their unlawful arrest and detention during the nationwide demonstrations against police brutality in 2020.
The judgment, delivered by Justice Mobolaji Olajuwon, followed a fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by the applicants, identified as Bolarinwa Akinyemi and Tobi Akinyemi. The duo had sued the Inspector-General of Police and other respondents for violating their constitutional rights to dignity, personal liberty, and freedom of expression.
According to the court documents, the applicants were arrested on November 7, 2020, while participating in a peaceful protest in front of the National Assembly complex in Abuja. They were allegedly brutalised and detained for several days without being charged to court.
In her ruling, Justice Olajuwon described the action of the police as “a clear violation” of the applicants’ fundamental rights as enshrined in Sections 34, 35, and 40 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
“The arrest and detention of the applicants for engaging in a peaceful protest was unconstitutional, illegal, and amounted to a gross abuse of power,” the judge ruled.
The court awarded ₦5 million each to the applicants as general damages and ordered the police to tender a public apology, to be published in two national dailies.
Reacting to the judgment, counsel to the applicants, Pelumi Olajengbesi, hailed the verdict as “a victory for justice and a bold statement that peaceful protesters cannot be treated as criminals.”
The ruling adds to the growing list of court decisions affirming the rights of #EndSARS protesters, many of whom were victims of violent crackdowns by security operatives during and after the October 2020 protests.
