A Chief Superintendent of Police, Celestine Umeh has reportedly detained and tortured his girlfriend’s husband after the husband caught them having sex in his matrimonial home at Aba Ukpo Estate in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
The husband who is a businessman identified as Clement Asuquo Etim was arrested, detained and tortured for three days after he caught Umeh at night in his matrimonial home.
After his release, Etim filed a case against the police at the Akwa lbom State High Court for violating his right to dignity and violating his fundamental right to private and family life by intruding into his matrimonial home without his consent.
During the High Court sitting, Etim who was represented by Lagos-based human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong in the lawsuit with Suit No: HU/FHR.72/2020, stated that Umeh who is now the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of Itu Division in Akwa Ibom State, violated Etim’s fundamental right to private and family life guaranteed by Section 37 of the Nigerian Constitution when he intruded into his matrimonial home in his absence to be with his wife, Mrs Laurentia Asuquo Etim.
Justice Charles Ikpe in his judgement found Umeh guilty of intruding into Etim’s matrimonial home without his consent, detaining and torturing him for three days without justification.
The Akwa lbom State High Court therefore ordered the Nigeria Police Force and the Akwa Ibom State Commissioner of Police to pay a sum of N4 million to compensate the businessman and also restrained the police from arresting the Applicant except by the order of a court.
