Court In PortHarcourt Awards 10Million Naira Against Nigeria Police,One Other Over Illegal Detention Of A Lawyer

A High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has awarded the sum of ten million naira in favour of Micheal Amatonjie, a Lawyer, against 1st Defendant Igbiki Amangi Tende, some Officers of the Police Force, Inspector General of Police, Commissioner of Police Rivers State Command and four others, in a fundamental right suit.
The services of the Applicant was said to have been procured by his client on whose behalf he acted and wrote petition against one Igbiki Amangi Tende and some Police officers, base on the petition he wrote he was arrested on 24 May, 2021 by the CPS Squad/  Surveillance and detained for two days at the
The Applicant Michael Amatonjie had filed a fundamental right suit against the Respondents seeking court declaration that his detention at the cell of the Mile one Diobu Police Station Divinional Headquarter by the Respondents is a gross violation of his right to personal liberty and freedom of movement as enshrined in section 34 (1) 41 (1) and section 34 (1) of the 1999 Nigerian constitution.
The Presiding Judge, Justice Boma Diepriye, in his judgement delivery declared that the right of the Applicant who was rendering legal services to a client was bridged.
The Court granted perpetual injunction restraining the Police and every other person’s from inviting the applicant or arresting him in respect to the said transaction that led to his arrest.
Justice Diepriye however awarded the sum of ten million naira against the Respondents, stating that five million naira is to be paid by the 1st Respondent Igbiki Amangi Tende and another five million should be paid by the 2nd to eight Respondents in the case, being Inspector General of Police, Commissioner of Police Rivers State and others.
In an interview with our with our correspondent, Samuel Amatonjie Counsel Representing the Applicant, Michael Amatonjie, said the harassment, intimidation and the arrest of lawyers by Police Officers needs to be put to a stop