A Federal High Court in Abuja has ruled that Rev. Onokogu Hezekiah, founder of Living Christ Mission and popularly known as Daddy Hezekiah, must pay N10 million to Hezekiah Duru, a Polaris Bank manager, for violating his fundamental human rights.

The cleric had accused Duru of financial misappropriation and breach of trust, leading to Duru’s arrest and detention by the police. However, Justice D. Okorowo determined that the arrest and detention were violations of Duru’s rights, as the allegations were already being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

In the suit FHC/ABJ/CS/3/2024, Justice Okorowo also criticized the warrant order obtained from the Nasarawa State Magistrate Court, labeling it unlawful and an abuse of power.

The judgment stated: “A declaration is made that the arrest, detention, and purported investigation of the Applicant from the 11th day of December 2023 till 29th day of December 2023 by the Respondents on the petition of the 1st Respondent on an allegation of financial misappropriation/embezzlement/cheating/breach of trust already being investigated is an infringement of the Applicant’s right to personal liberty, fair hearing, right to dignity of his person as enshrined in the Constitution of Nigeria 1999 and African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.”

The court ordered the immediate release of Duru from police custody and issued an injunction preventing further arrest or detention by the Nigerian police. Additionally, the court awarded N10 million in damages against Rev. Onokogu Hezekiah and the Nigerian Police, including the Inspector General of Police and ACP Asuquo, the officer in charge of the Special Investigation Unit of the IGP office.

This ruling underscores the court’s stance on protecting individual rights against unlawful detention and abuse of power.