ERNEST OMUSO-IBIMO SECURES N150 COURT JUDGMENT AGAINST SAIPAN CONSTRUCTION COMPANY IN RIVERS STATE

A Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has awarded the sum of one hundred and fifty million naira in favour of one ERNEST OMUSO-IBIMO against Saipan construction company in a fundamental rights enforcement case. ERNEST OMUSO-IBIMO dragged Saipan construction company and five other defendants before the court, challenging his detention and restriction from going out of the company premises located along Akar road in Rumuolumeni community in Obio-Akpor Local Government Area of the state on November 29, 2024. ERNEST OMUSO-IBIMO also alleged that he was subjected only to the company's food, water and drinks, as he was not allowed access to get food and drinks of his own choice based on his health condition during the number of days he was detained and restricted by the company. Trial judge, Justice STEPHEN JUMBO, in his judgment of over forty pages, declared that after a careful evaluation of evidence and exhibit disagreed with the reason given by Saipan construction company and agreed with applicant's claim on the violation of his fundamental human right and right to personal liberty. Justice JUMBO also held that the construction company in their affidavit and address never denied detaining and restricting the applicant but only gave reasons which the court considered as not been tenable and justifiable, hence rejected. Justice STEPHEN JUMBO while declaring that the detention and restrictions of ERNEST OMUSO-IBIMO is unconstitutional and a breach of his fundamental right, ordered that the company to tender an apology to the plaintiff and pay him the sum of one hundred and fifty million naira as damages and another one million naira as cost.