Lawyer Demands N50 Million Compensation, Apology from Police Chief, Stanbic Bank Over Unlawful Arrest and Harassment
October 4, 2024
By Okafor Joseph Afam
A N50 million lawsuit has been filed against the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, Lagos State Commissioner of Police, officers Ahejo Tony Ikechukwu and Victor Effiong, and Stanbic IBTC Plc. The case, initiated by Eugene Okwudili Okonkwo and his family, seeks redress for alleged human rights violations, unlawful arrest, and harassment. The applicants claim they have been subjected to unlawful detention and harassment orchestrated by Stanbic IBTC.
Filed at the Federal Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, the lawsuit names the Inspector General of Police, Lagos Police Commissioner, and the two police officers as the 1st to 4th respondents, while Stanbic IBTC Plc is listed as the 5th respondent.
The applicants are demanding a court declaration that their arrest and detention were unconstitutional, an injunction to prevent further harassment, and N50 million in damages. They also seek written apologies from the respondents for violating their fundamental rights, including personal liberty, dignity, freedom of movement, and fair hearing.
In the affidavit supporting the suit, Chukwudi Emmanuel Okonkwo, the 4th applicant, detailed his traumatic experience, alleging that he was unlawfully detained by Stanbic IBTC staff on August 6, 2024, and held without access to his family or legal counsel. He was later handed over to the police, and despite securing bail, his bank accounts and those of his family members remain frozen. The applicants live in fear of continued harassment from the respondents.
The court has been urged to intervene and protect the applicants from further violations of their rights.
