An Akwa Ibom State High Court has issued a judgment ordering a policewoman, Inspector Iniobong Umoren, to pay a tricyclist, Jeremiah Sunday Udo, the sum of N5 million for his unlawful arrest and the impoundment of his tricycle.
The tricyclist had purchased the vehicle on hire purchase for N1.9 million.
Justice Ntong Ntong, presiding over the case, also directed Mr. Udoka David, a friend of the tricyclist, to pay an additional N5 million for instigating the police to arrest and detain him for five days without food and water.
The court, however, excluded the Commissioner of Police, Akwa Ibom State Police Command, Mr. Olatoye Durosinmi, from the judgment but advised him to caution his officers and men to operate within the confines of the law.
Jeremiah Sunday Udo, a resident of Ifa Ikot Idang in Uyo, had entered into a hire purchase agreement with Mr. Udoka David, with a commitment to pay N20,000 every week.
Following economic challenges, he fell behind in his payments, resulting in his arrest and the confiscation of the tricycle.
Justice Ntong criticized Inspector Iniobong Umoren for impounding the tricycle without a court order, describing her actions as “satanic, nefarious, and unwholesome antics against the applicant.”
The court emphasized the need to protect individuals from such abuse of power and ordered the immediate release of the tricycle pending further court orders under the hire purchase agreement.
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