Calabar Federal High Court Awards ₦100m Against Police Over Death of Onyekachi Mba
The Federal High Court in Calabar has awarded ₦100 million in damages against the Nigeria Police Force and four other respondents over the death of 22-year-old Onyekachi Mba, who died after allegedly sustaining fatal injuries during an encounter with police officers attached to the Cross River State Government House.
Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu delivered the judgment on Thursday in a fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by Chief Roland Nbubuka on behalf of the deceased’s family.
The suit, instituted on October 10, 2025, challenged the circumstances surrounding Mba’s death following an incident at the Government House in Calabar on August 1, 2025.
Named as respondents were the Nigeria Police Force, ASP Victor Edet, the Police Service Commission, the Commissioner of Police in Cross River State, and SP Emmanuel Dickson, the Chief Security Officer of the Cross River State Government House.
In her ruling, Justice Ojukwu held that the actions of the police officers, which led to the severe injuries and eventual death of Mba, constituted a clear violation of his constitutionally guaranteed fundamental rights.
The court found that Mba’s rights to life, personal liberty, and the dignity of the human person were unlawfully breached through the conduct of the officers involved.
Court records showed that after sustaining serious injuries during the August 1 incident, Mba was taken to the Naval Reference Hospital in Calabar, where he later died.
The applicant had asked the court to declare that Mba was subjected to unlawful treatment inconsistent with the protections guaranteed under the 1999 Constitution and sought compensation pursuant to Section 46 of the Constitution.
Justice Ojukwu ruled that the assault and fatal injuries inflicted on the deceased were unlawful and unjustifiable, holding the respondents responsible for the violation of his fundamental rights.
Consequently, the court awarded ₦100 million in damages against the respondents, directing that the compensation may be paid jointly or severally.
The judgment marks a significant milestone in a case that drew widespread public attention following allegations that Mba was brutalised by police officers attached to the Cross River State Government House.
The court further stressed that security agencies have a constitutional duty to safeguard the lives, liberty, and dignity of citizens, and must not subject them to unlawful assault, detention, or any form of inhumane treatment.
With the award of damages, the court held the police and the other respondents accountable for the actions that resulted in Mba’s death, reaffirming the judiciary’s commitment to protecting the fundamental rights of Nigerians.
