The Federal High Court in Lagos has awarded over N104 million in damages against the Nigerian Navy and the Attorney General of the Federation for the brutal assault, shooting and stabbing of a Lagos-based medical doctor, Dr. Owen Edo-Ojo, by naval personnel in Lekki, Lagos.
Delivering judgment in Suit No: FHC/L/CS/1093/2022, Justice Y. Bogoro condemned the conduct of the naval ratings involved in the March 19, 2022 attack, describing the incident as “uncivilized and savage.”
The court held that the actions of the naval personnel amounted to a gross violation of the applicant’s constitutional rights to dignity and life as guaranteed under Sections 33 and 34 of the 1999 Constitution and relevant provisions of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
Dr. Edo-Ojo had approached the court through an originating motion filed under the Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules, seeking declarations, damages and other reliefs over the attack which left him with multiple gunshot and stab wounds.
According to the motion on notice filed by the applicant, the incident occurred on Gbangala Street, Ikate-Elegushi, Lekki, while the doctor attempted to park his vehicle near a property allegedly occupied by a senior naval officer.
The applicant stated that he was confronted by a naval rating dressed in mufti, who violently hit his vehicle and threatened him for attempting to park in front of the premises.
The confrontation later degenerated into a physical assault, during which the doctor was allegedly beaten, stabbed and dispossessed of valuables including his wristwatch, iPhone, gold bracelet and footwear.
The court heard that after reporting the matter at Ilasan Police Station, the applicant returned to the scene with police officers to identify the assailants.
However, one of the naval ratings allegedly emerged in military camouflage armed with an assault rifle and opened fire on the applicant and accompanying Policemen.
Dr. Edo-Ojo sustained gunshot injuries to his groin and thigh, while bullets lodged in his body reportedly caused severe complications.
Medical reports tendered before the court revealed that one bullet was successfully removed during surgery, while another remained lodged near his femoral vessels due to the risks associated with extraction.
Justice Bogoro, while ruling in favour of the applicant, stated that security personnel entrusted with protecting citizens must not become instruments of terror.
“I read in horror the uncivilized and savage manner in which those employed and paid with taxpayers’ money to protect Nigerian citizens have grown into monsters that devour their own children without empathy or remorse,” the judge said.
The court granted all the major reliefs sought by the applicant, including declarations that the attack was unlawful and unconstitutional, as well as an order restraining the respondents from further harassment or intimidation.
The judge also ordered the Nigerian Navy and the Attorney General of the Federation to publish public apologies to the victim in two national newspapers and across their media platforms.
Additionally, the court awarded N3.9 million as special damages for medical expenses and N100 million as aggravated damages for the physical, emotional and psychological trauma suffered by the doctor.
The court further awarded the sum of N250,000.00 against the defendants as cost of instituting the suit.
—Source:newsdishing.