In a recent ruling, the National Industrial Court in Ibadan has ordered the Nigeria Police Force to compensate the family of police constable Emmanuel Gene from the Ogun State police command with the sum of N20 million.
During an operation in Aba-titun village, Ijebu Igbo, Ijebu North Local Government in December 2020, Gene was allegedly kidnapped by criminals. Despite extensive efforts, Gene, who left behind a pregnant wife, was never located, alive or dead.
In September 2021, the family sought assistance from the police authorities to find their missing relative, urging the Commissioner of Police in Ogun State, the former area commander of Ijebu-Ode, A.C Abiodun Onuoha, and the Divisional Police Officer, SP Kazeem Solatan, to provide answers.
After receiving no response from the Nigerian Police Force, the family approached the National Industrial Court in Ibadan, seeking justice.
The case, identified as suit no NICN/IB/74/2021, involved Jimoh Gene and Comfort Gene as the claimants and the Police Service Commission, the Inspector-General of Police, and three others as defendants.
In their submission, the claimants argued that the former Divisional Police Officer of Ijebu-Igbo, Kazeem Solatan, took Emmanuel Gene on a land-grabbing operation at Aba-titun, Ijebu-Igbo, accusing the police of negligence.
In the verdict announced by Justice Opeloye A. Ogunbowale on Thursday, the court granted the requests made by the plaintiffs. It
“found the police liable for negligence under the doctrine of Vicarious Liability and that the police exposed Emmanuel Gene to extreme danger.”
Consequently, the court ordered the Nigeria Police Force to take immediate action to rescue and locate Gene, whether he is alive or dead.
Additionally, it demanded that the sum of N20 million be paid to the family, along with N300,000 to cover litigation costs, within a 30-day period following the delivery of the judgement.
Ada Peter
