Court restrains IGP, others from harassing couple

Court restrains IGP, others from harassing couple

FRANCIS IWUCHUKWU

Justice Sedoten Ogunsanya of a Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja has ordered the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Abubakar, Lagos State Commissioner of Police (CP) Umar Manko and a Lagos based businessman and chief promoter of CMB Building Maintenance and Investment Company Limited, Kelechukwu Mbagwu, to henceforth desist from further violating the fundamental rights of a couple, Uche Nnaji and Anthonia Nnaji.

The judge in a ruling declared that the respondents were culpable in the allegation of rights violation and abuse made against them in the application for the enforcement of fundamental rights instituted by the couple.

The court also declared that the arrest of the husband, (Uche Nnaji) on December 16, 2013 by the police as instigated by Mbagwu, is unlawful, illegal, unconstitutional and gross violation of his fundamental right to personal liberty and freedom of movement guaranteed by the constitution.

Justice Ogunsanya also directed the respondents to pay a damage sum to the tune of N200,000 as compensation for illegal infringement on the rights of the couple, even as he ordered the IGP (first Respondent) and Lagos State CP (second Respondent) to withdraw immediately, the charge No. MIK/B/17/2014 against Anthonia (second applicant) pending at the Magistrate Court, Ikeja.

The judge also agreed with the submission of lawyer to the couple, Fidel Albert, that the IGP and the Lagos CP vicariously, through their agents violently violated the fundamental rights of the couple by acting unlawfully and illegally on the instigation of Mbagwu,

According to information before the court, crisis began when merely two weeks after their wedding, the chairman of their wedding reception who is also the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of CMB Building maintenance and Investment Company Limited, Mbagwu allegedly began to make sexual advances
to the wife who was then a marketing staff at the company.

The information stated further that on Monday October 15, 2013 Mbagwu was alleged to have sexually harassed Mrs. Nnaji in his office.

However not satisfied with the development, Mrs Nnaji resigned her appointment and also returned her official vehicle to the company.