The Ondo State High Court in Akure has ordered the state government and the State Security Network, codenamed Amotekun, to pay N30 million to a 36-year-old commercial motorcyclist, Olusegun Oluwarotimi, for illegally shooting him.
Justice O.M. Adejumo, who delivered the judgement on Wednesday, said that the illegal firing constituted a violation of the right to dignity of the victim.
Ms Adejumo stated that the shooting, which led to the amputation of the victim’s leg, was a flagrant violation of his dignity, saying that it was sheer victimisation and dehumanisation.
She said the two respondents must pay the amount for exemplary and general damages to the applicant to cater for his physical and emotional injuries.
The judge said that the action of the Amotekun personnel amounted to flagrant abuse of power.
“The illegal shooting at Araromi Street on August 9, 2021, in Akure by Amotekun was a violation of the applicant’s human rights.
“The court hereby orders the respondents to jointly pay the sum of N20 million to the applicant as general damages and N10 million as exemplary damages,” she said.
The judge, however, rejected the prayer of the applicant’s counsel, Tope Temokun, asking the court to order the respondent to tender an apology to his client in a notable national newspaper.
Speaking with journalists after the judgement, Mr Temokun said the applicant was helpless and hopeless after several efforts to seek redress.
He said he was happy that the judgement favoured his client, describing the verdict as an encouragement and inspiration to fight more for the oppressed and the helpless in society.
The counsel believed the state government and the corps would obey the court order.
(NAN)