Court Orders IGP, 5 Others to Pay N500m for Harassment, Rights Abuse

A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has ordered the Inspector-General of Police and five others to pay N500 million as damages over the harassment and violation of the rights of a Lagos-based real estate developer, Dr. Harrison Agboifon.

The judgement was delivered by Justice Lewis Allagoa in a suit marked FHC/L/CS/16644/2023. The court held that the actions of the police and other defendants amounted to intimidation and abuse of fundamental rights.

Those affected by the ruling include the Inspector-General of Police, the Commissioner of Police, Interpol, Force Headquarters Abuja, the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Interpol, CSP Abdullahi Sanusi, Mr Bright Solomon Omozejele, and Solviz Resources Limited. The court ordered that the N500 million damages be paid jointly and severally.

Justice Allagoa also issued a perpetual injunction restraining the police authorities and their agents from further harassing or intimidating the applicant. The order specifically stops any attempt to arrest him or compel him to appear in Abuja pending the final determination of the case.

The dispute started from a property transaction in Lagos. The applicant, Dr. Agboifon, is a real estate consultant and Managing Director of Landmark Corporate Realty Limited. He entered into an agreement with Mr Bright Omozejele, who acted on behalf of Solviz Resources Limited, for the purchase of a three-bedroom bungalow located in Abijo GRA, Ibeju-Lekki.

The property was initially priced at N37 million but was later reduced to N36.5 million after negotiations. The buyer agreed to complete payment within 12 months.

However, the court heard that only N19 million was paid, leaving a significant balance unpaid after the agreed deadline in December 2021.

According to the applicant’s counsel, Barrister Ikechukwu Anima, instead of completing payment, the buyer allegedly petitioned the police. He accused them of using connections within the Force Headquarters in Abuja to pressure the applicant.

Anima told the court that his client faced repeated threats, harassment, and invitations to report to the police office in Abuja. He argued that the matter was purely civil and originated in Lagos, making such actions unlawful.

He said the situation caused serious fear and concern for his client, especially as the invitation directed him to appear before the Commissioner of Police in charge of Interpol, an office not meant for handling civil disputes.

The court agreed with the submissions. It declared that inviting the applicant to Abuja over a Lagos-based civil transaction was unconstitutional.

The judge held that such actions amounted to intimidation, harassment, and a violation of the applicant’s right to personal liberty as guaranteed under Section 35(1) and (3) of the 1999 Constitution.

Justice Allagoa further ruled that the threats of arrest and detention were illegal. He affirmed that law enforcement agencies must not be used as tools to settle private civil disputes.

The court therefore granted all the reliefs sought by the applicant, including the order restraining the respondents from taking further steps against him in connection with the matter.