The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Gboko Branch, on Friday, 11th September 2026 secured a significant victory for one of its members, B. B. Iliamkondo, Esq., with the Benue State High Court awarding ₦500 million as general and exemplary damages over the alleged violation of the lawyer’s fundamental rights by personnel of the Nigeria Police Force. The suit, No. MHC/4110M/2026, followed an alleged incident in May 2026 involving Iliamkondo and police personnel at a police outpost in Koti-Mbaduku, Shangev-Yav, Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State.
According to the case presented before Justice M. M. Ikwulono, sitting in Makurdi, Iliamkondo had gone to the police outpost in his professional capacity to secure the bail of a client who had retained his legal services. It was alleged that the officer in charge of the outpost, Inspector Terngu Ikyuur, demanded money as a condition for the client’s bail.
The lawyer reportedly questioned the demand, stating that bail was free, following which the situation allegedly escalated.
According to the applicant’s account, Inspector Ikyuur ordered him to leave the police outpost and allegedly threatened to implicate him in his client’s case.
The lawyer was said to have attempted to submit his written bail application when the police officer allegedly seized him by his shirt, threw him to the ground and detained him alongside his client and other inmates.
The allegations took a more disturbing turn the following day.
According to the facts relied upon in the suit, Inspector Ikyuur allegedly brought Iliamkondo out of detention and compelled him to carry on his head a bucket containing faeces and urine passed by inmates overnight.
He was also allegedly forced to sing that he was a “charge and bail lawyer” while being marched around the community.
The applicant further alleged that a loaded firearm was pointed at his head throughout the alleged procession, with threats that he would be killed if he stopped marching.
Iliamkondo was subsequently released following the intervention of his colleagues, although he alleged that he had been brutalised and stripped half-naked during the incident. Following the incident, the Chairman of the NBA Gboko Branch, F. M. Z. Uwar, Esq., constituted a legal team to pursue the enforcement of Iliamkondo’s fundamental rights. The legal team comprised I. S. Gese, Esq.; F. M. Z. Uwar, Esq.; Bem-Ephraim Orlunan Ayati, Esq.; T. I. Tur, Esq.; S. L. Puusu, Esq.; B. I. Aker, Esq.; G. M. Jimin, Esq.; S. S. Gbileve, Esq.; C. M. T. Uwar, Esq.; F. Tyoyima, Esq.; B. E. Atser, Esq.; and M. I. Tagher, Esq.
The action was instituted against Inspector Terngu Ikyuur; CSP Banfa U. Nanzing; the Commissioner of Police, Benue State; the Inspector-General of Police; the Police Service Commission; and the Nigeria Police Force, listed respectively as the first to sixth respondents.
Justice Ikwulono upheld the applicant’s case and entered judgment in favour of Agugu Iliamkondo Benson Bemsen, Esq.
The court awarded ₦500 million in general and exemplary damages against the respondents for the violation of the applicant’s fundamental rights.
The court further ordered the police to author and publish an apology to the applicant in national newspapers with nationwide circulation, with a copy of the publication to be furnished to him.
BarristerNG gathered that in addition to the court proceedings, the NBA Gboko Branch has written a formal petition against Inspector Terngu Ikyuur and his DPO, CSP Banfa U. Nanzing, requesting discreet disciplinary action.
Reacting to the judgment, the legal team described the decision as “sound in law, compensatory to our learned friend and deterrent against the police.”
The team also commended the Branch Chairman, Uwar, for his intervention and leadership in pursuing justice for the affected lawyer.