Following the unfortunate shooting and killing of Philip Okoro (the deceased) on July 29, 2022 by trigger-happy agents of Uzo-Uwani Council led by Barrister Chijioke Ezugwu, Mr. Pius Okoro, the deceased's father, had approached the court seeking enforcement of the latter's fundamental rights to life and dignity. This incident resulted in outrage and violent protests in the community.
Delivering judgment, the judge agreed with the Applicant’s Counsel that the killing of the deceased was unlawful, extrajudicial and contrary to sections 33, 34 and 37 of the 1999 Constitution, Articles (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 12) of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights and Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
The court condemned the reckless and mindless action of the vigilante men, which led to the untimely death of young Philip Okoro, holding further that the courts must rise against impunity and recklessness of trigger happy security officers employed to bear arms and protect citizens.
The court therefore awarded and ordered the Chairman of Uzo-Uwani LGC, Uzo-Uwani Local Council counsel and Barrister Chijioke Ezugwu to jointly and severally pay to the family of the deceased the sum of N20, 000,000 only as compensation.
Reacting to the judgment, Counsel to the applicant, V. N. Ayogu, described the judgment as sound and well researched judgment anchored on sound principles of law and judicial reasoning.
He commended the court for rising to the occasion in defence of the constitutionally protected rights of the deceased, stating that the decision will go a long way to assuage the loss of the family.
News Source: The Guardian.
