Court dismisses N100m alleged rights abuse suit against IGP, firm

A federal High Court, Lagos has dismissed a N100 million suit filed by a businessman, John Obi, against the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) and a firm, Suntory Beverage and Food Limited, for lacking in merit.

Justice Ayokunle Faji, while ruling on the matter, also turned down the plaintiff’s request for a declaration that his arrest and detention between June 6 and 7, 2018 by men of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (ForceCID) Alagbon, Ikoyi, Lagos was unconstitutional.

Obi had contended that the action was persecutory, illegal and in gross violation of his personal liberty as guaranteed by Sections 35 and 36 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and Articles 6 and 12 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement Act (Cap. A10) Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

The judge also refused his request for order compelling the police to refund him N6, 350,000, a sum he claimed to have paid as bail and part of his debt settlement with the first respondent, Suntory Beverage and Food Limited.