The Akwa Ibom State High Court in Uyo has issued an order for the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 6, Calabar, Inspector Wofai Johnson, and Jimmy Godwin to pay the sum of N20 million to the village head of Oku Ikono in Uyo Local Government Area for an unlawful arrest.

The royal father, Eteidung Okon Akpan, was arrested concerning an electric transformer in the village.

Justice Ntong Ntong, presiding over the case on Thursday, ruled that the respondents should compensate the royal father N20 million for his arrest on February 28, 2022, and April 28, 2022, by the Anti-Cultism Unit of the State Police Headquarters, Ikot Akpan Abia, and for continually harassing him until the present date.

The court specified the amounts for each respondent, stating, “Jimmy Godwin, who instigated the Police against the Village Head, is to pay N10 million; the AIG, Zone 6, Calabar, who authorized the unlawful action, N6 million, while the Investigative Police Officer (IPO) Inspector Wofai Johnson of Anti Vice Unit, Zone 6, Calabar, who obeyed the unlawful order of the AIG, is to pay the Village Head N4 million.”

Ntong emphasized that the police’s actions caused the village head aggravated and psychological harassment for performing his constitutional functions for his community.

The court noted that the Nigeria Police chose to remain aloof after being served the originating processes in the matter.

Ntong urged the Nigeria Police to exercise more discretion and civility in their investigations, especially in civil and contractual matters.

He found the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 6, and the two other respondents liable for breaching the fundamental rights of the applicant.