* Awards Damages Against Lagos Police Commissioner
* Monday Ubani SAN Hails Ruling
A Lagos High Court presided over by Justice Adenike Shonubi has ordered the unconditional release of Mr. Sewedo Folorunsho who had been unlawfully detained for eight years without trial.
Folorunsho, represented by the law firm of Monday O. Ubani, SAN & Co., had filed an application for the enforcement of his fundamental human rights, challenging his prolonged incarceration without a formal charge. The suit named the respondents as the Lagos State Commissioner of Police (1st Respondent), Attorney General of Lagos State (2nd Respondent), and Deputy Controller of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Lagos (3rd Respondent).
The applicant was reportedly arrested by the Police in 2012 on allegation of murder and kept in detention before being arraigned on a holding charge in 2017 before the Ebute Metta Magistrate Court.
Despite the arraignment, no formal information was filed before the High Court of Lagos State to commence his trial, resulting in his indefinite detention at the correctional facility from 2017 until the judgment date.
In her judgment, Justice Shonubi condemned the prolonged and unlawful detention as a gross violation of the applicant’s constitutional rights to personal liberty, dignity of human person, and fair hearing. The Court consequently ordered his immediate and unconditional release from custody and awarded N500,000 as damages against the Lagos State Commissioner of Police.
Reacting to the judgment, the Lead Defence Counsel, Mr. Monday Ubani, SAN, commended the Court "for its courage and fidelity to the rule of law," describing the decision as “a victory for human rights, justice, and the sanctity of liberty in Nigeria.”
A similar sentiment was expressed by Mr. Iwowo Anthony who adopted the written address of the application on behalf of the law firm of Monday O. Ubani, SAN & Co.
The judgment has been hailed by human rights advocates as a reminder that no institution of the state should trample upon the rights of citizens.
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