RismadarVoice Reporters
August, 2026
The Federal Capital Territory High Court has ordered the Nigeria Police Force to pay ₦12 million in damages and litigation costs to The Whistler newspaper reporter, Kasarahchi Aniagolu, for the unlawful violation of her fundamental rights.
Delivering judgment in Abuja, Justice Bello Kawu held that the journalist’s arrest, assault and detention by police officers amounted to a breach of her constitutional rights to dignity and personal liberty as guaranteed under the 1999 Constitution.
The court awarded ₦10 million as general damages for the violation of her fundamental rights and an additional ₦2 million as the cost of litigation.
Aniagolu was arrested on February 21, 2024, while covering a police operation targeting suspected illegal bureau de change operators in Wuse Zone 4, Abuja.
According to court documents, despite identifying herself as a journalist, she was allegedly assaulted, arrested and detained for about eight hours at the Guzape Police Station.
She subsequently filed a fundamental rights enforcement suit against the Inspector-General of Police and the Nigeria Police Force, seeking ₦100 million in damages for unlawful arrest, detention, assault and invasion of privacy.
The journalist also accused the police of unlawfully seizing her mobile phone and deleting photographs stored on the device.
In his ruling, Justice Kawu declared that the police subjected Aniagolu to inhuman and degrading treatment in violation of Section 34 of the Constitution and also infringed on her right to personal liberty under Section 35 through her unlawful arrest and detention.
The court consequently ordered the Nigeria Police Force to pay the compensation, describing the actions of the officers as unconstitutional.
The judgment is regarded as a significant reaffirmation of constitutional safeguards against unlawful arrest, arbitrary detention and abuse of power by law enforcement agencies, while underscoring the rights of journalists to carry out their lawful duties without intimidation or harassment.
