A Federal High Court in Calabar has awarded one hundred million naira in damages against the Nigeria Police Force and four other respondents over the death of a twenty-two-year-old man, Onyekachi Mba.
Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu delivered the judgment in a fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by the deceased’s legal representatives. The court held that the actions of police officers attached to the Cross River State Government House violated the victim’s constitutional rights to life, dignity and personal liberty.
The case arose from an incident in August 2025 during which Onyekachi Mba was allegedly assaulted and shot by security personnel attached to the Government House in Calabar. He later died from injuries sustained during the incident.
In her ruling, Justice Ojukwu described the actions of the officers as unlawful and a serious abuse of power. The court found that the treatment meted out to the deceased amounted to a violation of his fundamental human rights as guaranteed under the Constitution.
The court subsequently ordered the payment of one hundred million naira in damages against the respondents, who include the Nigeria Police Force, the Police Service Commission, the Commissioner of Police in Cross River State and other police officers named in the suit.
Human rights advocates have welcomed the judgment, describing it as a significant step toward accountability and justice for victims of police misconduct. Legal experts also say the ruling reinforces the principle that security agencies must operate within the law and respect the rights of citizens.
The decision adds to ongoing national conversations about police accountability and the protection of fundamental human rights in Nigeria.
