Court Orders Delta Police Commissioner, Magistrate to Pay N30m Damages Over Unlawful Arrest of Decorator
Delta court awards ₦30m to film decorator over illegal arrest in contract dispute case.
Police, magistrate, and others ordered to apologize, as judge rules rights were clearly violated.
A Delta State High Court sitting in Asaba has ordered the State Commissioner of Police, Olufemi Abaniwonda, a magistrate, Mrs. Mordi Juliana, and four others to jointly pay the sum of N30 million in damages to a film set decorator, Mr. Tobechukwu Ananweude, for violating his fundamental human rights.
The court also directed all six respondents to issue a formal letter of apology to Ananweude and barred them from carrying out any further arrest, detention, or rights violations against him in relation to a breach of contract matter.
This judgment followed a fundamental human rights enforcement suit filed by Ananweude through his lawyer, A. F. Brideba, under suit number DTHC/ASB/FR/48/2024.
Listed as respondents in the suit were Mr. Udaya Chidebere, Mrs. Mordi Juliana, the Delta State Commissioner of Police, CSP Rex Enwelikwu, SP Ruth Essang, and Inspector Ifeyinwa Uwakina.
Ananweude told the court that he was unlawfully detained by police operatives from Asaba’s “A” Division on two occasions: April 16–17 and May 4–6, 2024. He said his ordeal stemmed from a contract he received on January 21, 2024, from the first respondent, Mr. Chidebere, to carry out interior and exterior decoration work on a property in Asaba for N10.3 million.
According to him, although he received an initial deposit of N8 million, Chidebere failed to make further payments and instead resorted to threats and police intimidation. Ananweude said he was arrested at the instigation of the respondents and was forced to sign a coerced agreement before being released from detention.
Despite being owed, the decorator claimed he continued to work on the project with his own money and suffered both financial loss and reputational damage. He also alleged that the second respondent, Mrs. Juliana, who works with the Chief Magistrates’ Court 1 in Asaba, used her official position to unduly influence police actions against him, violating his right to liberty and fair hearing.
However, the respondents denied the claims. Counsel to Chidebere and Juliana, I. U. Uchechukwu, told the court that the agreement between his client and the applicant was signed in February 2024, with an upfront payment of N6 million and a balance due on completion. He said that Ananweude breached the agreement by failing to deliver the job within the agreed timeframe after receiving a total of N8 million.
Juliana also denied all allegations, describing them as false and baseless.
In their response, the legal team representing the police, led by Mrs. G.O. Okwegbe, argued that the applicant’s arrest and detention were based on a valid criminal complaint and that the officers acted within the bounds of their duty.
But delivering his judgment, Justice Onome Marshal-Umukoro ruled that the arrest and detention of Ananweude over a civil contract dispute were unconstitutional, illegal, and a violation of his rights. The judge awarded N30 million in damages to the applicant, holding all six respondents jointly and severally liable.
“The arrest was unlawful, null and void,” the judge declared.
Speaking after the verdict, Ananweude’s lawyer, A. F. Brideba, praised the ruling, describing it as “well deserved” and based firmly on the evidence presented in court.
“It is a very fair and well-considered judgment. This should serve as a warning to those who misuse state institutions to oppress others,” Brideba said.
