The Rivers State High Court, Port Harcourt Division, has awarded the sum of 200 Million Naira to a Nigerian lawyer, Owunari Samuel Taylor-Harry, against the Nigeria Police Force for the breach of his fundamental rights.

O. S. Taylor-Harry had commenced a fundamental rights action in Suit No. PHC/2064/FHR/2022 against the Nigeria Police Force sued as 1st Respondent and 8 others. From the facts which the Court believed to be true, the Police arrested and subsequently detained, assaulted and humiliated Taylor-Harry for three days – 28 January 2020 to 30 January 2020. This was at the instigation of one Chief Yom Esiso sued as 9th Respondent in the suit. The 2nd-8th Respondents are the Police Service Commission, the Inspector General of Police, Commissioner of Police, Rivers State Police Command, Adamu Abdullahi Elleman, Alex Udeze, Supol Musa and Muhammed Gimba (officers of the IGP Monitoring Unit), respectively.

In the Affidavit sworn by Taylor-Harry in support of his application for the enforcement of his fundamental rights, he narrated that his unlawful arrest and detention was connected to a Notice to Quit which he issued on behalf of his client in the course of performing his duties as a legal practitioner. According to him, he was never invited by the Police before the Police visited his office in Port Harcourt on 28 January 2020. Without informing him of his ‘offence’, they grabbed, dragged and whisked him away like a lamb for sacrifice. He was treated like a common criminal, and was locked up in police cells both in Port Harcourt and later in Abuja. The officers involved made him endure the long road trip to Abuja against his wish and amidst the risks. It was until he got to the station that he was asked to make a statement concerning the Notice to Quit in question. This was when he got a hint of the reason for his arrest.    

Taylor-Harry explained that it took the intervention of the Nigerian Bar Association before he was released on bail. He was later made to report to the Force Headquarters, Abuja.

On 20 December 2022, the Court, in its Judgment, declared that the conduct of the Respondents was “manifestly unwarranted, an abuse of power, unconstitutional and a brazen breach of the fundamental rights of the Applicant”, Taylor-Harry.

The Court further restrained the Police and Chief Yom Esiso from “further arresting, detaining, inviting, threatening, harassing or molesting the Applicant over the issuance and service of the Notice to Quit on behalf of his client.”

COURT AWARDS A LAWYER N200M FOR BREACH OF HIS FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS BY THE POLICE

COURT AWARDS A LAWYER N200M FOR BREACH OF HIS FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS BY THE POLICE

It appears the Nigeria Police has become a tool for intimidation and oppression. As long as complainants are made to continue to finance the treatment of petitions submitted at most law enforcement agencies, intimidation and oppression will never end in Nigeria.



Introducing Law Practice as a Business

Dear friends, I’m happy to announce the publication of my latest book, Law Practice as a Business

Law Practice as a Business discusses a critical aspect of law-practice business—the business of making money in legal practice. It shares some of the vital business strategies and distinct ideas peculiar to the legal industry. The ideas are presented with clarity of thought and simplicity of language. Hopefully, this keeps you relaxed while activating your logical and innovative mind. 

In addition to my knowledge and personal experience, the fundamental business aspects of legal practice discussed in this book also draws from the ideas of well-accomplished legal practitioners and scholars, locally and internationally. Therefore, some of the opinions expressed in the book are authoritative. The ideas are not only authoritative but realistic, with proven degrees of success. 

This book is meant to be a source of information, inspiration, and motivation for all categories of lawyers—especially young lawyers—as well as the lay in law, including law students and people in service-based businesses.

ANNOUNCING ‘LAW PRACTICE AS A BUSINESS’, A NEW BOOK ON THE BUSINESS OF MAKING MONEY IN LEGAL PRACTICE

Book Price and How to Get a Copy

Law Practice as a Business is N7,000 (Seven Thousand Naira) only per copy, excluding delivery cost. To grab a copy or more for yourself and your learned friends, kindly make payment to any of the following account details: 

0033024933 

Azubuike Stephen Ifeanyi 

GTBANK 

OR

2025707577 

Azubuike Stephen Ifeanyi 

UBA 

You can share evidence of payment via email (siazubuike@gmail.com) or WhatsApp (+2348063868497) and provide your delivery address. 

You can also purchase the book at my online store, https://stephensbooks.net/.

NB: For law firms, legal departments, and other organisations, Law Practice as a Business is also available for bulk purchase and is deliverable to all locations. To place requests, please email siazubuike@gmail.com. You can also reach me via call/WhatsApp on +2348063868497.

The book is also available in Lagos and Abuja at the following locations:

1. Ikeja Bar Centre, Lagos High Court, Ikeja Division. 

2. Udom Emmanuel Book stand, Federal High Court, Ikoyi. 

3. Infusion Lawyers, Vibranium Valley, 42, Local Airport Road, Ikeja. 

4.  Mr. Alex, Federal High Court, Abuja, 08035991379. 

ANNOUNCING ‘LAW PRACTICE AS A BUSINESS’, A NEW BOOK ON THE BUSINESS OF MAKING MONEY IN LEGAL PRACTICE



Stephen Azubuike
Author: Stephen Azubuike
Stephen is a lawyer with expertise in Commercial Dispute Resolution and Technology Law practice. He is a Partner at Infusion Lawyers. He has successfully argued cases from the High Courts of various jurisdictions to the Appellate Courts on behalf of financial institutions, other corporate bodies and multinationals. He has advised a number of both established and startup tech companies. He tweets @siazubuike.
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