THE WHISTLER Reporter Wins N12m Against Police Over Rights Violation

A Federal Capital Territory High Court, presided over by Justice Bello Kawu, has ordered the Nigeria Police Force to pay N12 million in damages for the abduction and unlawful detention of THE WHISTLER reporter, Kasarahchi Aniagolu.
Aniagolu was arrested, assaulted, and detained for eight hours by police operatives on February 21, 2024, in Abuja. She was apprehended in Wuse Zone 4 during what the police described as a covert operation targeting operators of illegal bureau de change businesses.
Following the incident, the journalist filed a suit on October 25, 2024, against the Inspector General of Police and the Nigeria Police Force, seeking N100 million in damages. In her statement of claim, she alleged that the police abducted her, seized her phone, deleted photographs stored on it, and violated her privacy. She also accused the officers of subjecting her to inhuman treatment while in detention, thereby infringing on her fundamental rights. The suit was filed on her behalf by Adekunle Kosoko Esq. of Seasons Law Firm, Abuja.
In a judgment delivered on Wednesday, July 29, Justice Kawu held that the police subjected the applicant to inhuman and degrading treatment in violation of Section 34(1)(a) and (b) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). The court further ruled that her abduction and detention at the police station in Guzape District, Abuja, breached her right to personal liberty as guaranteed under Section 35(1) of the Constitution.
The court awarded Aniagolu N10 million as damages for the violation of her fundamental rights and an additional N2 million to cover the cost of litigation, bringing the total award against the Nigeria Police Force to N12 million.