Police get N100m fine for killing driver over N100 bribe

The Federal High Court sitting in Ibadan has awarded the sum of N10 million compensation against the Nigeria Police Force in favour of the family of a commercial bus driver, Alimi Hakeem, who was shot dead by a police officer in Saki over a N100 bribe at a checkpoint.

Justice Nathaniel Ayo-Emmanuel also ordered the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, to investigate the unlawful killing and bring the culprit to book. The late Hakeem, popularly called Sakilayewa, was killed by Inspector Ifeayin Nbu on March 9, 2016, along Saki-Okere International Market road, Saki, Oyo State. The judge held that everyone had a right to life, adding that deliberate killing of any individual in the society was against the law.

He added that Nbu’s refusal to contradict or challenge any of the arguments and exhibits tendered against him otherwise meant that the court shall accept them as the truth.“The applicant in this case has proved beyond reasonable doubt that Inspector Ifeayin Nbu, the fifth respondent committed the crime because he did nothing to defend himself despite the fact that he was aware of this case. I therefore believe same to be the true reflection of what happened before life was sniffed out of the deceased.”

Afeez Oluwaseun Hakeem, son of the deceased, had instituted the suit bordering on the fundamental human right enforcement of his father to life against the respondents. Afeez had prayed the court to award a cash sum of N500 million as compensation against the unlawful killing of his father.