Court Rules Against Police, Awards Cameroonian N1m Damages

A Cross River State High Court sitting in Calabar has ordered the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) to pay N1 million damages to Manghe Romeo Etta, a Cameroonian youth senator representing Manyu Division.

The trial judge, Justice Theresa Agom, delivered judgment in suit No. HC/146F/2025, holding that the arrest and detention of Etta over the allegation of a stolen vehicle were unlawful.

The court also ordered the immediate release of Etta’s vehicle, a BMW-X1 model with registration number MRA 905 AL, and chassis number WBAVL1C57CVR78137, which was seized by the police.

The court mandated the respondents to immediately release the vehicle to the applicant, having declared his arrest and detention as unlawful.

In a brief interview with LEADERSHIP after the judgment, the counsel to the applicant, Armstrong Takim Achu of Centurion Chambers, Calabar, averred that the applicant proved ownership of the vehicle with verifiable documents, while the respondents failed to provide any evidence to support their claims.

“The applicant was able to prove his ownership with very verifiable documents linking himself and the vehicle. The respondents never presented a single piece of evidence to prove the veracity of their defence,” Achu said.

The court awarded N1 million in damages to the applicant, despite the applicant seeking N200 million, citing setbacks encountered in the case.

Achu warned that the respondents would face consequences if they fail to comply with the court’s judgment, stating “they will be committing a crime” and may be charged with criminal contempt of court.

In his remarks, counsel to respondents four to eight, Nyakno Usen Usoroh, said he would pass the outcome of the judgement to the respondents.