By Sunday Ejike Benjamin
The Federal High Court in Uyo, sitting before Justice I.L Ojukwu has declared that the invasion of the State Office of the Peace Corps of Nigeria in Akwa Ibom State by the Police in October last year was illegal and unconstitutional.
Delivering judgment in a suit instituted by the Incorporated Trustees of the Peace Corps of Nigeria against the Police, the Court held that it was unacceptable and amounted to gross impunity for the Police to have arbitrarily invaded the Peace Corps Office without recourse to the rule of law.
In granting the reliefs sought by the Peace Corps, Justice Ojukwu granted an order of perpetual injunction restraining the Police from further arresting, molesting and harassing members of the Corps while carrying out their legitimate activities.
The Court, beside ordering the Police to release with immediate effect to the Organization, all the properties, including Office equipment and Uniform, confiscated by the Police from the Peace Corps Office, ordered the Police to pay N2 million to the Peace Corps as damages incurred.
Justice Ojukwu further held that the Uniform of the Peace Corps is akin to that of National Youth Service Corps, Man ‘O War, School Cadets and other youth uniform organizations.
She therefore said members of the Organization are entitled to their uniform, as it does not breach any law of the Federation.
While reacting to the judgment, the National Commandant of the Corps, Ambassador Dickson Akoh, commended the judiciary for its fairness in judgment.
He said it was indeed pleasing to know that the judiciary still stands firm in defending the common man.
In reiterating that this was the 6th landmark victory won by the Corps against the Police, Ambassador Akoh stated that the refusal of the Police to obey these series of judgments are clear indications that they are making a mockery of the rule of law as it was an affront to the judiciary.
