A Calabar High Court sitting in Cross River State has ordered the Nigerian Police to pay N1 million damages to Manghe Romeo Etta, a Cameroonian youth senator representing Manyu Division.
The presiding Judge, Hon. Justice Theresa Agom, who delivered the judgment in suit No: HC/146F/2025, stated that the arrest and detention of Etta over the allegation of a stolen vehicle was unlawful.
The court also ordered the immediate release of Etta’s vehicle, a BMW X1 model with registration number MRA 905 AL, and chassis number WBAVL1C57CVR78137, which was seized by the police.
The court mandated the respondents to immediately release the vehicle to the applicant, having declared his arrest and detention as unlawful.
Counsel to applicant Armstrong Takim Achu Esq. of Centurion Chambers, Calabar, explained that the applicant was able to prove the ownership of the vehicle with verifiable documents, while the respondents failed to provide any evidence to support their claims.
“The applicant was able to prove his ownership with very verifiable documents linking himself and the vehicle.
“The respondents never presented one single evidence to prove the veracity of their defence,” Achu said.
The court awarded N1m damages to the applicant, despite the applicant seeking N200m, citing setbacks encountered in the case.
Achu warned that the respondents would face consequences if they failed to comply with the court’s judgment, stating “they will be committing a crime” and may be charged with criminal contempt of court.
In his remarks, counsel to respondents 4 – 8 Nyakno Usen Usoroh, said he would passed outcome of the court judgement to the respondents as stated by the court.
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