馃嚦馃嚞NigeriaWest Africa
Federal High Court awards N200m to widow of truck driver killed by police in Osun State
via Punch Nigeria2 min read
The Federal High Court in Abuja has awarded N200 million in damages to Balkisu Babai, the widow of truck driver Kabiru Babai, who was unlawfully killed by a police sergeant in Osun State in 2021. Justice Peter Lifu ruled that the fatal shooting of Babai by Sergeant Moses Samuel violated his fundamental right to life. The court directed the Inspector-General of Police and the Commissioner of Police, Osun State Command, to immediately begin the prosecution of Sergeant Samuel. Balkisu Babai had filed a fundamental rights enforcement suit seeking a declaration that her husband's killing was unlawful, an order for the officer's prosecution, and N2 billion in compensation. Court documents indicate that Babai was repairing a truck when police officers arrived. After an officer shot the co-driver, Babai emerged from under the truck and was allegedly beaten, struck, and shot in the chest by Sergeant Samuel, dying at the scene. The court declared the killing unconstitutional and awarded N200 million against the Inspector-General of Police, the Commissioner of Police, Osun State Command, and Sergeant Samuel. However, the court declined to compel the Attorney-General of the Federation to institute criminal proceedings against the sergeant.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Punch Nigeria.
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