The men, Ozor Okolocha, Elvis Obiaku, Edward Onyenoknone and Imoni Micah, were said to have been held in police custody beyond the specified period.
In his ruling on Monday, Justice Jude Okeke held that the respondents – Inspector General of Police and the FCT Commissioner of Police – in the matter refused to renew the order of remand from the court which elapsed after 14 days.
The applicants were arrested on Dec. 17, 2015 and Jan. 6, 2016 at their home town of Ase-Omuku in Ndokwa East LGA of Delta.
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They were brought to Abuja and detained at Keffi prison following a remand order from an Abuja Magistrate Court. At the expiration of the order, no renewal was made until April 5, when the suit was filed
“As compensation for the violation of their fundamental rights, N1 million should be paid to each of the applicants for the hardship and embarrassment suffered by them,” the judge said.
“The applicants were continuously detained at Keffi Prison without remand order, renewal and without charges preferred against them.
“This is a gross violation of their fundamental rights as provided by the provisions of section 35 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.”
Okeke also held that the detention of the applicants and violation of their rights to liberty were not justified by the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015.
He also ordered that the respondents should refrain from arresting the applicants over the issues in the suit.