Court of Appeal Upholds ₦5M Compensation for Lagos Lawyer Over Unlawful Arrest

The Court of Appeal in Lagos has affirmed a Federal High Court ruling that awarded ₦5 million to lawyer Kola Sodiya for unlawful arrest and detention by the Nigeria Police. A three-judge panel delivered the unanimous judgment on July 10, 2026, dismissing the appeal by the Inspector-General of Police and other officers. The appellate court found no reasonable suspicion to justify Sodiya’s early-morning arrest over alleged forgery of property documents. It upheld the earlier finding that his rights to personal liberty and dignity were violated and ordered the police to pay an additional ₦1 million in costs. In delivering the lead judgment, Justice Yargata Byenchit Nimpar emphasized that police powers cannot be used to settle civil disputes. Two other justices concurred, stressing that criminal investigations must not be deployed to influence pending civil cases. The decision reinforces that law enforcement must respect constitutional rights and limits in civil matters.

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