A High Court sitting in Asaba, the capital of Delta State, has ordered the State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Olufemi Abaniwonda, a judicial officer, Mrs. Juliana Mordi, and four others to jointly pay the sum of ₦30 million in damages to a film set decorator, Mr. Tobechukwu Ananweude, for the unlawful violation of his fundamental rights.
The court further directed the respondents to issue a written apology to Mr. Ananweude and restrained them from any further arrest, detention, or infringement of his constitutional rights arising from the said contractual dispute.
The judgement followed an application for the enforcement of fundamental human rights filed by Mr. Ananweude through his legal counsel, A. F. Brideba.
According to the plaintiff, he was unlawfully arrested by officers from the A-Division Police Station in Asaba on two separate occasions — April 16–17 and May 4–6, 2024 — without due explanation.
Mr. Ananweude further claimed that on 21 January 2024, he was contracted by one Mr. Udaya Chidiebere (the first respondent) to undertake both interior and exterior decoration works on a property in Asaba, for an agreed fee of ₦10.3 million. While a deposit of ₦8 million was paid, the project allegedly experienced repeated delays due to Mr. Udaya's failure to fulfil further payment obligations, culminating in threats and the involvement of law enforcement.
Delivering the judgement, Justice Onome Marshal-Umukoro held that, “The arrest of the applicant over a breach of contract matter was unconstitutional, unlawful, illegal, null, and void. Accordingly, ₦30 million in damages is awarded jointly and severally against all the respondents.”