The Abuja Division of the Federal High Court has awarded N70 million in damages against the Nigerian police for the wrongful death of a nursing mother caused by a police stray bullet, marking the end of a legal battle that spanned over two decades.
On Friday, Justice G. Olotu delivered the verdict, ordering the police to pay N10 million in general damages, N50 million in punitive damages, and an additional N10 million for litigation costs to a 24-year-old man, whose mother, Margaret Achalla, was killed in 2000.
Margaret Achalla was tragically shot while bathing her baby in the Utako area of Abuja when a police officer’s stray bullet struck her. Despite the critical condition she was in, the police officers on the scene fled, leaving her to bleed to death.
The lawsuit, initiated in 2001 by rights lawyer and activist Abubakar Marshal of Falana and Falana Chambers, sought damages for the wrongful death. The case was supported by substantial evidence, including the bullet extracted from the victim's body, photographs of the injury, x-ray reports, medical documents, and hospital invoices, all of which were meticulously presented as proof of claim.
Justice Olotu ruled that Ms. Achalla's death was both unlawful and unconstitutional, based on the overwhelming evidence provided. The court imposed a total of N70 million in damages against the Nigerian police and further ordered the police to pay a five percent interest on the award until the full amount is settled.
This landmark judgment highlights accountability in law enforcement and serves as a reminder of the need for justice in cases of wrongful death caused by police actions.
