Nigeria's Inspector-General of Police, Hafiz Ringim
By Gabriel Enogholasee
An Agbor-based business man, Michael Obi, has instituted a N500 million suit before a Federal High Court in Benin, against the Inspector General of Police and five others, over alleged breach of his fundamental right to life and dignity of person.
Mr. Obi is claiming N500 million as damages and compensation suffered from the bullet wound he suffered when a mobile police officer shot him.
He is also claiming N570,000 for medication.
Defendants in the suit are Police Service Commission, Nigeria Police Force, Commissioner of Police, Edo State Command, Attorney-General of the Federation and Corporal Sule Usman.
He is contending in the suit that “On September 12, 2011, on his way to Benin from Agbor in company of one Chief Feco Ojomo to arrange for the repair of two trailer vehicles owned by Chief Ojomo, at Owa, a few kilometres from Abudu while driving behind a trailer, they got to a place where some mobile policemen armed with AK 47 rifles mounted a road block. He said that none of the policemen stopped the trailer in front of them.
Mr. Obi continued: “Suddenly, the policemen, particularly Corporal Sule Usman started shooting and he felt a sharp pain in his chest and started bleeding profusely at that moment and lost consciousness.
“It was later found that a bullet from the gun of Corporal Usman had pierced the side of the Toyota Jeep in which we were, and penetrated through my shoulder blade, exiting from my chest region, just missing my heart.
“At the time of the incident, the policeman who was later arrested by Chief Ojomo and the team of policemen led by a sergeant as he tried to escape had his mouth reeking of Indian hemp and alcohol while his speech was slurred.
“I was abandoned at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital where I was taken to for treatment. I paid over N300,000 for treatment and requires more. The police only deposited N20,000 and abandoned me in the hospital to rot.”
He is urging the court to compel the respondents to pay him N570, 761.26 as special damages for medical and other expenses incurred for treatment.