Posted by By Sun News Publishing on
The Nigerian Police recently paid N10m to one Osondu Obiajulu as compensation over the brutal killing of his wife, Juliana. Juliana was hit by a stray bullet fired by the police sometime in the 2000 at her home at No 52, Makoko Road, Yaba, Lagos when a team of policemen opened fire indiscriminately close to Obiajulu's residence.
•Access to Justice hands over money to family
The Nigerian Police recently paid N10m to one Osondu Obiajulu as compensation over the brutal killing of his wife, Juliana. Juliana was hit by a stray bullet fired by the police sometime in the 2000 at her home at No 52, Makoko Road, Yaba, Lagos when a team of policemen opened fire indiscriminately close to Obiajulu's residence.
The case which was brought before Justice Tijiani Abubakar, favoured Obiajulu as the police were ordered to pay N10m as compensation to the husband and young children of the deceased after many years of litigation.
In a press conference organized yesterday by a human rights organization, Access to Justice, Joseph Otteh, the Director of the group revealed that the compensation was obtained after years of arduous litigation.
Otteh further said that after Juliana was hit the police were said to have taken to their heels. 'In the aftermath of the inquires and apprehension of the police in question, the policeman who shot the bullet was arraigned at the Yaba Magistrate's Court but what appears to be like a deliberate frustration of the case by police authorities, both the suspect and the IPO was transpired.
'Mr. Obiajulu backed out of the case after three years of fruitless attempt at securing prosecution of the killer of his wife."
In frustration, Obiajulu ran to Access to Justice. The group filed an action for enforcement of the deceased's rights to life and for the award of compensation to the family. In a judgment delivered after three years of litigation, Justice Abubakar awarded the sum of N10m to the family as general and exemplary damages.
Granting all the prayers of the plaintiff, Justice Abubakar, declared that the killing of Mrs. Juliana Obiajulu by Sergeant Mattew Morontonu, servant and agent of the defendant at Makoko, Yaba on May 30, 2001 was unlawful, and a gross violation of her right to life as guaranteed by section 33 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He awarded N81,500 to the plaintiffs and N5m as exemplary damages. Also was N5, 000,000 which served as general damages to the plaintiffs.
While presenting the cheque, Otteh revealed that Osondu is one of the many Nigerians who are brutalized by the police for no just cause.
According to him, Access to Justice is calkling on the Yar' Adua's government to urgently prioritize respect for human rights and ensure its rule of law policy extends to the law enforcement agency.
For Obiajulu, N10m would not be enough to compensate for the loss of his dear wife.
'Ever since that incident I have not had any cause to look at any other woman.
Since then I have been indebted as those who I borrowed money from had been on my neck." But thanked Access to Justice for the assistance and also urged the governments to train policemen and other law enforcement officers to know and respect the value of life.