By Sunday Ameh
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court has ordered the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) to pay N12 million in damages to Kasarahchi Aniagolu, a reporter with The Whistler newspaper, over her unlawful arrest and detention.
Justice Bello Kawu held that the journalist’s arrest, abduction and detention violated her constitutional right to personal liberty, as guaranteed under Section 35(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
Aniagolu was arrested on February 21, 2024, while covering a police operation targeting suspected illegal bureau de change (BDC) operators in Wuse Zone 4, Abuja. She alleged that police officers assaulted and detained her for about eight hours.
The journalist later instituted a fundamental rights enforcement suit against the Inspector-General of Police and the Nigeria Police Force on October 25, 2024, seeking N100 million in damages for alleged unlawful arrest, assault, detention and inhumane treatment.
She also accused the police of violating her privacy by seizing her mobile phone and deleting photographs stored on the device.
In his judgment, Justice Kawu ruled that Aniagolu was subjected to inhumane and degrading treatment during her detention, adding that her arrest and detention at the Guzape Police Station in Abuja amounted to a breach of her fundamental rights.
The court consequently awarded N10 million as general damages for the violation of her rights and an additional N2 million to cover the cost of litigation, bringing the total award to N12 million.
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