A Federal High Court sitting in Ibadan, Oyo State, has ordered the University College Hospital (UCH) to pay ₦1.5 million in damages and legal costs to a lawyer, Kehinde Taiwo, over what the court described as unlawful interference with his vehicle and the removal of its battery by hospital security operatives.
Delivering judgment, Justice N. A. Maha held that the claimant had proved his case in part and was entitled to compensation for the actions of the hospital’s security personnel, which the court found to be unjustified in the circumstances.
The court awarded ₦1 million as general damages for psychological and emotional distress and an additional ₦500,000 as cost of litigation against the hospital management.
The suit arose from an incident on October 25, 2021, when Taiwo drove his mother to UCH, Ibadan, and parked his Toyota Corolla within the designated hospital car park.
Court documents showed that he properly secured the vehicle, locked its doors, rolled up the windows and was issued an official parking pass by hospital security.
However, upon his return, the lawyer discovered that the car battery had been removed.
He was subsequently directed by security personnel to the hospital’s security unit, where he alleged he was asked to pay ₦5,000 alongside an additional ₦100 before the battery could be released.
Taiwo told the court that the incident caused him and his mother significant hardship, emotional distress and prolonged delay.
He said the process kept them on the hospital premises until about 6:00 p.m., after which he was trapped in heavy traffic in Ibadan and did not arrive home in Abeokuta until 11:00 p.m.
He therefore sought ₦1 million in damages, a written apology from the hospital, and ₦500,000 as cost of litigation.
UCH, however, denied wrongdoing. Its security officer, Oluwatosin Aladeyelu, told the court that the battery was removed as part of routine security measures, claiming the vehicle was not properly secured at the time it was parked.
The hospital maintained that its personnel acted to prevent theft after allegedly discovering that a window of the vehicle was left open.
It further argued that the ₦5,000 charge was an official penalty imposed on negligent vehicle owners within the facility.
After evaluating the arguments of both parties, Justice Maha held that the hospital’s conduct was not justified and found merit in the claimant’s case in part.
The court, however, declined Taiwo’s request for a written apology from UCH management.
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