The Federal High Court Calabar has ordered The Nigerian Navy to to pay the sum of N75m to a 39-year-old, Mr. Etim Asuquo Akpan for shooting him in both legs for no reason, torturing him and holding him hostage and as well as keeping him in chains while he was in the hospital receiving treatment.
Akpan had taken The Nigerian Navy to court in 2013.
In 2012, Calabar resident Akpan was heading to work when he ran into men of the Navy attached to the then Quick Intervention Squad of the Cross River State Government.
Accused of being a ‘bloody civillian’ who had no respect for the armed forces, both legs by the naval forces and left in a pool of his own blood.
Members of a nearby church came to his aid and took him to the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital for treatment.
According to him, when the naval personnel realised he was in the hospital, they trailed him there and chained him to his bed and even tortured him.
Noting that Asuquo has been permanently incapacitated by the treatment meted to him by the Navy, the judge regretted that getting justice was slow in the case.
Counsel to the Navy, Mr. Tanbe Mark, in an interview, said the court had given judgment and they would have to comply with it.
Delivering his judgment, Justice Ekwo said, if such trend is encouraged every citizen would be a potential victim of such brutality.
The judge said such an act could not go without remedy, as Asuquo has a family and other people to support all his life.
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