A High Court of Justice in Ogun State, Abeokuta Judicial Division, has issued a judgment awarding the sum of N25 million against the office of the Ogun State Commissioner of Police and five others over the unlawful arrest and detention of Sunday Mafe.

According to the judgment obtained on Tuesday, April 2, 2024, and signed by Justice E.O. Osinuga on Monday, February 5, 2024, the court ruled that the repeated detention of Mafe by the Nigeria Police Force constituted a violation of his fundamental human rights.

Justice Osinuga held that the multiple detentions of Mafe, spanning from December 2 to 29, 2016, based on a petition regarding a civil and land matter for which the police lacked jurisdiction, were unconstitutional and unlawful.

The case, bearing suit no. HCJ/150/2017, was brought by Mafe against the Commissioner of Police, Ogun State, and other police officials, citing breaches of Section 125A of the Criminal Code and fundamental human rights as enshrined in Sections 34 and 45 of the 1999 Constitution.

Mafe alleged that he was detained on multiple occasions based on a petition written by Yomi Nuberu on behalf of Chief Sakirudeen Olufowobi, accusing him of various offenses related to civil transactions and land disputes.

In response, Justice Osinuga awarded the sum of N25 million as damages for Mafe’s unlawful detention by the police. Additionally, the court directed the police to issue a public apology to Mafe and cease harassment and intimidation tactics.

The judgment emphasized that the police’s mandate does not extend to civil disputes or land matters, warning against the abuse of police powers for personal or civil disputes.