Assault victim: Osun Reps member kicks against police refusal to pay judgement debt

The lawmaker representing Ayedire/Iwo/Ola-Oluwa Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Mudashiru Lukman has filed a petition over the failure of the Nigeria Police to compensate one Adetola Abdulazeez for the violation of her fundamental human rights.

During the 2020 coronavirus lockdown, Abdulazeez, a resident of Iwo, Iwo Local Government Area of Osun State was physically assaulted by police personnel.

DAILY POST recalls that Abdulazeez instituted a lawsuit against the Nigeria Police and the Inspector-General of Police before a Federal High Court sitting in Osogbo for the enforcement of her fundamental human rights.

The court in 2021 found the police to have violated her fundamental rights as guaranteed by the Nigerian constitution.

The sum of N2 million as exemplary damages and N3 million as general damages were top of the reliefs the court granted her.

However, the police have failed to pay the judgement sum despite several notices by the victim three years down the line.

In a letter dated January 30 and addressed to Tajudeen Abbas, the Reps Speaker, the lawmaker sought and successfully secured the approval of the House to present the petition for a legislative intervention.

Speaking with journalists, the lawmaker maintained that the police had not shown a correct attitude to the case since it was instituted and concluded in the court.

He added that he would stop at nothing to ensure the victim got her due compensation as ordered by the court of competent jurisdiction.

“I was surprised that the police had failed to honour the court order. It is not right. A law enforcement agency should not play with a judicial pronouncement.

“I am confident that the leadership of the house will invoke its legislative powers through this petition.

“Assault on anybody is condemnable. However, it is more condemnable if it is done against women,” the lawmaker said.

The petition, he revealed, would be looked into by the House Committee on Human Rights.

“The hearing date has not been fixed yet,” he added.