Court Awards N100M for Death of Medical Rep in Custody

Justice Ibrahim Kala of the Federal High Court in Lagos awarded N100 million in damages against the Police Service Commission (PSC), the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, and Exus Pharmaceutical (Nig) Ltd over the death of Omokhinyema Okubo, a medical sales representative, in police custody. The suit was filed by Okubo Aboye Odogu, the deceased's father, through his counsel Augustine A.

Abhulimen. The court found that Okubo's fundamental right to life, as guaranteed under Section 33(1) of the 1999 Constitution, was grossly violated.

The deceased was allegedly tortured and denied food and medical attention while in custody in July 2023. The court dismissed a preliminary objection from Exus Pharmaceutical and its manager, Joseph Osakwe, regarding the father's legal standing.

Justice Kala criticized the police for failing to conduct a proper investigation into Okubo's death and ordered the PSC and police to jointly pay N60 million, while Exus Pharmaceutical and Osakwe were ordered to pay N40 million.