The Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday, awarded N200m damages to the widow of a truck driver, Kabiru Babai, who was unlawfully killed by a police sergeant in Osun State in 2021.
Justice Peter Lifu, held that the fatal shooting of Babai by Sergeant Moses Samuel violated his fundamental right to life guaranteed under Section 33(1) of the 1999 Constitution and Article 4 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
The judge also directed the Inspector-General of Police and the Commissioner of Police, Osun State Command, to immediately commence the prosecution of the officer over the killing.
Babai’s widow, Balkisu, had filed the fundamental rights enforcement suit against the Police Service Commission, the IGP, the Osun State Commissioner of Police, Sergeant Samuel and the Attorney-General of the Federation.
She sought, among other reliefs, a declaration that the killing of her husband on December 3, 2021, was unlawful, an order compelling the prosecution of the officer and N2bn in compensation.
