On the 1st of February, 2021, the Federal High Court sitting in Oshogbo, Osun State awarded the sum of N5,000,000.00 (Five Million Naira Only) as aggravated and general damages against the Nigeria Police Force and the Inspector General of Police for the flagrant abuse of the rights of one Mrs Adetola Halima Abdulazeez in a fundamental rights enforcement suit instituted by the Abuja based legal practitioner, Pelumi Olajengbesi Esq. (Law Corridor).  The pronouncement of the Court in the judgment came at a time the nation has just been confronted with protest across the country wherein Nigerian youth trooped out en masse to protest against police brutality and other human rights abuses.

The Judgment is therefore a victory to the nation in the fight against police brutality and abuse of powers as resonated in the words of the court. However, what should be a thing of joy for the victim whose case appears to be a beacon of hope to many Nigerians has been targeted for frustration by the moribund process of enforcing this judgement as encapsulated in the extant laws on enforcement of monetary judgement against government agencies.

Notwithstanding the fact that pronouncements of this nature seek to compensate victims of human rights violations, the sad and avoidable reality is that successful litigants are overburdened with the onerous task of enforcing these pronouncements.

The main cause of the delay is none other than the provision in the Sheriff and Civil Process Act of 1955 (specifically the provision in Section 84, which mandates the consent of the Attorney General of the Federation or State—- thus making Government a judge in their own case). This is what we need you to help facilitate its repeal to make all victory in competent court judgements against security agencies assured. Let’s do this for our children and future generation.