A Federal High Court sitting in Ibadan, Oyo State, has ordered the Nigeria Police Force to pay N10m as compensation to the family of a commercial driver, Alimi Hakeem, who was shot dead by a policeman in Saki.
Alimi was shot by a cop, Ifeayin Nbu, on March 9, 2016, on the Saki-Okere International Market Road.
It was alleged that the policeman killed the late driver over N100 bribe.
The son of the deceased, Afeez Hakeem, instituted the suit against the Nigeria Police Force, praying the court to award the sum of N500m as compensation for what he described as unlawful killing of his father.
He explained that after his late father was stopped at a checkpoint, he offered Nbu the N100 bribe that was normally paid by commercial motorists.
He explained that the policeman demanded another N100, a request his father ignored.
Afeez said his father drove off, while the policeman ran after him. He added that when he could not catch up with Alimi, Nbu shot him in the head.
Apart from the compensation, the presiding judge, Justice Nathaniel Ayo-Emmanuel, in his ruling, ordered the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, to investigate the killing and bring the culprit to book.
He said the court arrived at the verdict because Nbu did not challenge or contradict any of the arguments and exhibits tendered against him during the trial.
He said, “The applicant in this case has proved beyond reasonable doubt that Inspector Ifeayin Nbu, the fifth respondent, committed the crime because he did nothing to defend himself despite the fact that he was aware of this case.
“There is no evidence before the court contradicting the facts presented by the applicant in the matter.
“I therefore believe same to be the true reflection of what happened before life was sniffed out of Alimi. It is evident from the record before this court that the applicant’s father had three wives and several children who were his dependants. For this and many other reasons, a sum of N10m is hereby awarded to the family of the deceased.
“The Inspector-General of Police is therefore directed to investigate this matter and bring the said Nbu to justice.”
The judge said the Nigeria Police Force, Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Deputy Commissioner of Police and the police division in Saki were responsible for Nbu’s action.
(PUNCHNG)