A victim of police brutality, Mr. Olaide Adebayo, has called on the Federal Government, Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) and human rights activists to compel the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Adamu to enforce a court judgment which awarded him N20million against the police.
The judgment was delivered on January 22nd, 2013 by an Ibadan High Court sitting.
Speaking with journalists on Thursday in Abuja, Adebayo said he instituted the case with the suit no: M/554/2001 after he was attacked by policemen on Thursday, June 25th, 2009 along Alagbayan village near Odoba, Osun state.
“The Nigeria Police appealed the judgment but on Tuesday, April 15, 2014 the Court of Appeal, Ibadan Division upheld the judgment of the High Court. But the Police have refused to pay. Since the judgment was delivered, one lawyer in Lagos was able to collect N313,000 out of the N20million awarded through garnish,” he said.
He said his lawyer had written to the AGF on February 26, 2016. The letter was acknowledged on March 24, 2016 by Mrs. Ngozi Calista Nkem on behalf of the AGF but till date nothing has been heard again.
“In January this year I got in touch with Ordinary Ahmed of Brekete Family and he asked me to come to Abuja. I spoke on air on January 23 and many people reacted to my story. I have given updates on the issue several time but till date the Police have refused to pay up,” he said.
He stated that the passionate appeal to the IGP had become necessary because his right eye had started to deteriorate, adding that medical practitioners had earlier recommended another series of surgeries on the eye to prevent him from becoming totally blind.
“The IGP should please kindly help me and pay the money quickly because I have suffered. I am married with two children who can’t go to school because of my inability to pay their school fees.
“I appeal to all well- meaning Nigerians, the federal government, Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) and human rights activists to help me appeal to the relevant authorities, especially the Inspector General of Police to comply with the judgment of the court to enable me undergo the series of eye surgeries recommended by the medical practitioners so as to save me from imminent blindness, which will make me a liability not only to my immediate family, but to the society at large,” Adebayo said.
