Human Rights Abuse: Cameroon Lawmaker Sues Nigeria Police, Seeks N200m Damages 

From Ene Asuquo, Calabar 

Cameroon Lawmaker, Manghe Romeo Etta, has dragged the Nigeria Police to court over alleged fundamental rights abuse. 

Etta, a youth senator representing Manyu Division at the National Assembly of the Republic of Cameroon, is also  seeking N200m damages for violation of his fundamental rights.

According to Etta, his  ordeal began when he bought a BMW X1 model vehicle from a dealer in Ikom, Cross River State. He said that he followed due process, including registration and transfer of ownership, but the police still impounded the vehicle.

“I was arrested and detained by the Nigeria police on the instigation of the car dealer, one Mr. Ebi Denis Ebi, and a certain lady Mengot Gift Achugah, for a transaction which I genuinely did with the car dealer.”

Etta  said he presented documents proving ownership, but the police alleged the vehicle was stolen and refused to release it. 

He said, “I was confronted with an embarrassing allegation of buying a stolen car. 

The police demanded the particulars of the vehicle and I tendered the particulars to them, yet they refused to hand over the particulars of the vehicle or release my vehicle back to me.”

He alleged that the police detained him  for about 12 hours,  where he vomited several times due to the habitable environment and he was made to pay N150,000 to bail himself out, stressing that his vehicle was towed and kept at the Divisional police station Ikom

Etta’s lawyer, Head of  Armstrong T. Achu & Co chambers,Calabar,  Armstrong Takim Achu, said, “My client is seeking damages for violation of his fundamental right by men of the Nigeria police, given the fact that court is the last hope of the common man.”

The court however  in suit No.  HC/146F/ 2025   presided over by Justice Theresa Agom, adjourned the matter for hearing  to February 10, 2026, asking both the applicant and respondents to make themselves available in court  when the matter comes up on the said day.

The outcome of this case is eagerly awaited, as it could set a precedent for police accountability in Nigeria.

In reaction to the issue the Police Public Relations Officer PPRO in  Cross River State ASP  Sunday Ethiopian Akata , said he was yet to be fully brief of the matter stressing that he will reach out to our correspondence once he gets the full information of what transpired.