On Tuesday, June 10, 2024, a Federal High Court in Abuja ruled that Rev. Onokogu Hezekiah, also known as “Daddy Hezekiah,” the founder of Living Christ Mission and prominent Anambra cleric, must pay N10 million to Dr. Hezekiah Duru, the manager of Polaris Bank, for his wrongful arrest and incarceration.
The applicant, Dr. Duru, was arrested and placed in police custody after the cleric, Daddy Hezekiah, filed a petition against him alleging money embezzlement and breach of trust. Daddy Hezekiah, the Nigeria Police Force, the Inspector General of Police, and A.C.P. Asuquo (Officer in Charge of S.I.U. of the I.G.P Office) were criticized by Justice D. Okorowo for their actions, though, in carrying out the arrest and incarceration.
Because the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission was already looking into the complaint, Justice Okorowo ruled that the Respondents’ actions constituted a rejection of the applicant’s fundamental human right. Justice D. Okorowo further criticized the warrant order from the Nasarawa State Magistrate Court in the suit: FHC/ABJ/CS/3/2024.
The following is the ruling of Justice Okorowo’s court in support of the applicant, Dr. Duru:
(1) A declaration is made that the Applicant’s rights to personal liberty, a fair trial, and human dignity—as guaranteed by the 1999 Nigerian Constitution and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights—have been violated by the Respondents’ arrest, detention, and alleged investigation of him from December 11 to December 29, 2023, in response to the petition of the First Respondent on allegations of financial misappropriation, embezzlement, cheating, and breach of trust, which is currently under investigation.
(2) It is declared that the order/warrant for the applicant’s detention that the Respondents received from the Nasarawa State Magistrate Courts is illegal, an abuse of authority, a misapplication of the legal system, and a violation of the applicant’s rights to a fair trial and personal freedom.
(3) An order has been issued mandating the immediate release of Amb. Dr. Hezekiah Chinenye Duru, the applicant, from police custody.
(4) An order of injunction is issued prohibiting the Nigerian police and its personnel from making any arrests, holding anyone in custody, or engaging in any other actions that could compromise, threaten, or impede the applicant, His Excellency Amb. Dr. Hezekiah Chinenye Duru,’s fundamental rights.
(5) ACP Asuqou (the officer in charge of the Special Investigation Unit of the IGP office), Rev. Onukogu, the Nigerian police, and the Inspector General of the Nigerian Police are jointly and severally awarded 10 million Naira damages.