The police has been ordered by an Akwa Ibom State High Court sitting in Uyo, to pay a N4m compensation after a policeman identified as Chief Superintendent of Police, Celestine Umeh detained and tortured his lover’s husband after he caught him sleeping with his wife.
The businessman identified as Clement Asuquo Etim was arrested, detained and tortured for three days after he caught Umeh at night in his matrimonial home at Aba Ukpo Estate in Uyo.
Etim who was represented by Lagos-based human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong in the lawsuit with Suit No: HU/FHR.72/2020, stated that Umeh who is now the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of Itu Division in Akwa Ibom State, violated his fundamental right to private and family life guaranteed by Section 37 of the Nigerian Constitution when he intruded into his matrimonial home in his absence at Aba Ukpo Estate in Uyo to be with his wife, Mrs Laurentia Asuquo Etim.
Justice Charles Ikpe in his judgement on the case, held that that police violated the fundamental right of the Applicant to personal liberty by detaining him for three days without justification and also violated his right to dignity by torturing him.
Ikpe also found Umeh guilty of violating the fundamental right of the Applicant to private and family life by intruding into his matrimonial home without his consent.
The Judge who restrained the police from arresting the Applicant except by the order of a court, also ordered the Nigeria Police Force and the Akwa Ibom State Commissioner of Police to pay the sum of N4 million as compensation to the businessman.
