A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Abuja has ordered the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) to pay ₦12 million in damages to THE WHISTLER reporter, Kasarahchi Aniagolu, over her unlawful arrest, detention and alleged assault while carrying out her duties as a journalist.
Justice Bello Kawu delivered the judgment after finding that the police violated Aniagolu’s constitutional rights when she was arrested and detained for about eight hours on February 21, 2024, during a police operation targeting suspected illegal Bureau De Change operators in Wuse Zone 4, Abuja.
According to court documents, the journalist filed a fundamental rights enforcement suit against the Inspector-General of Police and the Nigeria Police Force on October 25, 2024, seeking ₦100 million in damages. She alleged that police officers abducted her, assaulted her, seized her mobile phone, deleted photographs stored on the device and subjected her to degrading treatment while in custody.
In his ruling, Justice Kawu held that the police subjected the applicant to inhuman and degrading treatment, contrary to Section 34(1)(a) and (b) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). The court also ruled that her abduction and detention at the Guzape Police Station violated her constitutional right to personal liberty guaranteed under Section 35(1) of the Constitution.
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The court consequently awarded ₦10 million as general damages for the violation of Aniagolu’s fundamental rights and an additional ₦2 million as the cost of litigation, bringing the total compensation to ₦12 million.
The judgment is being viewed as a significant affirmation of constitutional protections for journalists and reinforces the responsibility of law enforcement agencies to respect press freedom and the fundamental rights of citizens while carrying out their duties. As of the time of reporting, the Nigeria Police Force had not publicly responded to the judgment.
