N16m damages awarded to women labelled sex workers by FCT - Groups

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered the Abuja Environmental Protection Board, the Nigeria Police Force and other law enforcement agents to pay N16 million as damages to six women who were harassed and abused during raids in April 2019.

Some policemen and other law of enforcement agents were said to have invaded clubs, hotels, supermarkets and others in Abuja to round up women under the guise of arresting sex workers.

The women, it was learnt, suffered sexual violations, physical and mental torture while in detention and were denied bail and legal representation between April 26 and 29, 2019.

According to a statement signed by 58 individuals and organisations, among which are Amnesty International Nigeria, Bring Back Our Girls, Coalition for the Defence of Nigeria Constitution and Democracy, Concerned Nigerians, Enough is Enough, FIDA Nigeria, National Human Rights Commission, Nigeria Sex Workers’ Association, Nigerian Feminist Forum and Aisha Yesufu, Justice Evelyn Maha ordered the sum to be paid as damages to the women.

They said the judge issued an injunction restraining security agents from arresting women in such circumstances.

The statement was titled, ‘Court rules in favour of women harassed and abused by Nigeria Police, AEPB, awards compensation in millions of naira’.

It read in part, “She awarded a total of N16M in damages against the Abuja Environmental Protection Board, the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, the Inspector General of Police and Inspector Thomas Nzemekwe, aka ‘Yellow’ in favour of the six applicants.”