By Chijioke Agwu, Abakaliki
An Ebonyi State high court has ordered the state command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) to pay N200, 000 to a legal practitioner in the state, Chinedu Ngele, for trampling upon his fundamental human rights.
Ngele was on November 9, 2014 stopped by special marshals of the Corps in front of Corps office along the Abakaliki/Enugu Expressway who were on duty in the area.
He was accused of using expired tyre which they said attracts N2, 000 fine and immediately impounded the vehicle. But he insisted that his vehicle tyre was okay and must go with it, a situation that made the marshals to cease his driving license and two law books pending when he brings bank teller as evidence that he has paid the N2, 000 fine so as to reclaim his vehicle.
He was said to have paid the fine and returned to the marshals with bank teller as evidence and was told that it was some minutes past the hour of 4pm and as a result should come back the next day.
On his way back home, officers on duty allegedly led by R.D Ekponta invited him into their office and asked him to pay N2,500 to release his items immediately.
At this point, argument ensued between him and the officers and he was allegedly beaten up.
As a result, Ngele proceeded to the court to seek redress.
In the matter which was brought under fundamental human rights enforcement HAB/14MB/2015, Ngele sought for the enforcement of his fundamental human rights.
He joined the FRSC, the Sector Commander and R.D Ekponta as respondents.
Delivering judgment on the matter, the presiding judge, Justice B.A.N Ogbu, ordered the three respondents to pay the applicant N200, 000 as damages.
He also ordered them to pay N20, 000 as costs of the suit and instructed them to immediately release his ceased driving license and two law books to him (Ngele).
The court thereafter gave an injunction restraining the respondents from harassing, intimidating or assaulting the applicant henceforth.