The Federal High Court in Abakaliki has ruled in favour of legal practitioner and Customary Court presiding officer, Mr. Sampson Imeze Ekigbo, awarding him ₦22 million in compensation and legal costs after he was assaulted by officers of the Nigerian Correctional Service.
Delivering the judgment in suit number FHC/AI/FHR/11/2025 on Thursday, Justice Hillary Oshomah found that Ekigbo’s fundamental rights were violated during an incident on November 26, 2024. The case was filed by Ekigbo on January 30, 2025, following what he described as a brutal attack by two armed officers of the Service at Harriz Filling Station, Abakaliki.
According to court records, the officers involved — Mr. Ifeanyi Nwovu and Mr. Ogwuma Chidi — allegedly assaulted Ekigbo without provocation, despite his identification as a judicial officer.
The suit was instituted against the Nigerian Correctional Service, its Comptroller General, the Comptroller in charge of Ebonyi Command, and the two officers.
In his ruling, Justice Oshomah stated:
“The beating of the Applicant who is presiding officer of customary court and legal practitioner at Harriz Filling Station, Abakaliki on the 26th day of November, 2024 without just cause by the 4th and 5th Respondents who were working for the 1st to 3rd Respondents, is a gross violation of the Fundamental Human Rights of the Applicant to dignity of his person contrary to Section 34 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
The court also issued a perpetual injunction barring the respondents and their agents from further acts of torture, harassment, or intimidation against the applicant.
“An Order of Perpetual Injunction be and is hereby granted by this Honourable Court restraining the Respondents or anyone acting through them from torturing, molesting and/or intimidating the Applicant without committing any known wrong or offence or without a justifiable reason,” the judge ruled.
Furthermore, Justice Oshomah ordered the respondents to publicly apologise to Ekigbo, with the apology to be published in two national newspapers within 14 days.
“That the Respondents are by order of this Honourable Court mandated to tender an unreserved apology to the Applicant and same to be published in two national dailies within 14 days of this Judgment,” he added.
In terms of monetary compensation, the court awarded ₦20 million for the physical and emotional suffering caused by the assault. An additional ₦2 million was granted to cover legal costs and expenses incurred in prosecuting the case.
“That ₦20,000,000.00 (Twenty Million Naira) only is hereby assessed and awarded against the Respondents jointly and severally as compensation for the pains and torture that was meted on the Applicant by the 4th and 5th Respondents on 26th November, 2024.”
“Cost and expenses incidental to the institution and prosecution of this action is by order of this Honourable Court assessed to be ₦2,000,000.00 (Two Million Naira) in favour of the Applicant against the Respondents jointly and severally,” the court further declared.
Justice Oshomah also imposed a 10% interest per annum on the judgment sum if not paid within 14 days.
Reacting to the decision, Mr. Aliugo, one of the lawyers involved in the case, described the ruling as a critical affirmation of human rights and a message against abuse of power by security institutions.
Speaking in an interview on Friday, Mr. Ekigbo expressed relief at the outcome and recounted the incident, which he said occurred after a tricycle crashed into his car at the filling station. While waiting for repairs, he was allegedly approached, slapped, dragged, and threatened at gunpoint by the two officers — despite informing them he was a judicial officer.
He revealed that the attack left him with a severe ear injury requiring hospital treatment. According to him, multiple efforts by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and civil society groups to resolve the matter were ignored by authorities, leaving him with no option but to seek legal redress.
“I followed the path of peace, but they neglected every intervention. The judgment today is justice. I will ensure the judgment is enforced to the letter,” Ekigbo said.
He emphasized that the victory was not merely personal but also a stand for the protection of judicial officers and the rights of citizens.
