SIRENS can be expensive as Mrs. Endurance Odubu, wife of the Deputy Governor of Edo State has discovered. A Federal High Court in Benin City ordered her to pay N12 million as damages to Captain Olorunduyilemi Stephen, an officer with the 4th Brigade of the Nigerian Army.

In a role reversal of the military molesting civilians, security operatives attached to Mrs. Odubu, dragged Captain Stephen out of his car, beat him, and detained him at Mrs. Odubu’s residence. The incident took place in January last year.

Stephen sought the following from the court – N502 million as damages, an unreserved apology from the defendant to be published in five national dailies and broadcast on three electronic media.

Justice Adamu Hobon, in his judgment, ordered Mrs. Odubu to tender an apology to the army officer in three electronic media and two national dailies.

He stated that sirens were for emergency. Approved users were fire fighters, ambulances and top government officials.

Mrs. Odubu did not qualify under any of the categories. Justice Hobon wondered why the defendant took the law into her hands. If Stephen had committed an offence, the judge noted, he should have been charged to a competent court.

The judge ruled that the beating of the army officer was unlawful. He awarded N2 million as special damages to cover medical expenses and his damaged car. For illegal detention and infringing on his fundamental human rights, the court awarded Stephen N10 million.

High_Chief:

^^^I think you should ask who ordered the beating or rather whose security details got him beaten him. It could be assumed that those guys were acting under instructions because she could have easily stopped it if she never liked the act. Why should she be moving around town with a siren and tormenting people with her entourage et al. Plus, they said the Officer was detained in her Residence, so she is fully behind everything.

okada_man:

We know who ordered the beating and she has no right or "official capacity" to order anything.

If you as a private citizen call up your police friend to go beat up and assault another citizen, you and the IDIOOOOT who followed you to beat up another man would be guilty of assault and battery. it does not matter if they were wearing a police uniform, military fatigue or ordinary boxers.

The security detail cannot claim ignorance, that is not a defense in law, especially for a law enforcement officer. The FOOOLISH Deputy madam has no right to order anybody to beat anyone, the good honorable judge made that point clear.

So they are equally guilty of assault and possibly kidnapping and attempted murder, They should all be jailed with the madam, it is a very serious crime.

12M plus jail is a better deterrent.

okada_man:

Tpia asked a very important question, it is also a profound one.

The individuals that physically assaulted that man should be charged and tried for assault and battery at the least

This should be a criminal case not just a civil one, while 12M is good, it is not enough deterrent. Too lenient.

We have laws in the books against assault, battery and attempted murder, the books should be thrown at these DOOFUSES and they should be jailed in addition to the 12M they are paying.

So I join Tpia to ask, Who did the beating? they need to be in jail.

gzib:

Does she have immunity from the law? she should be remanded in prison for that.  common deputy governor wife. wetin she go do when her husband become president. Useless thing. You will beg for bread one day in Jesus name. small opportunity given to you and u think you can order people to slap and beat anybody. what kind of example are you showing. 2mrrow you go come beg people to vote for your husband.
Infact i know know what to use to describe you because i dey vex. A  soldier captain na im una beat!  Make any soldier soldier man no follow that  woman again.
NEMESIS GO CATCH YOU ONE DAY.

Seun:

Your anger should not be based on the fact that she's a woman. That's a completely irrelevant fact.