Posted by The Federal Capital Territory’s High Court fined Mrs.dot Marianne Ahmadu Ali N30 million for keeping Ms. Deborah Longs Nanpon, her personal assistant, in a filthy dog cage for three days. Senator Ahmadu Ali was the former national chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), and Mrs.dot Marianne Ahmadu Ali is his wife.
According to Justice Akanbi Yusuf, Ms. Deborah was unjustly imprisoned by the politician’s wife in a degrading setting.
In addition to the N30 million in monetary compensation, the court also mandated that Marianne publicly apologize to her personal assistant in a national newspaper. Using the assistance of attorneys from the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Human Rights Radio and Television, Abuja, supported the case.
A strange rumor about Dr. Mrs.’s actions surfaced sometime in April 2022. Marianne Ahmadu Ali, the wife of a former PDP National Chairman, dehumanized her personal assistant.
Mrs. Ali beat up and imprisoned her personal assistant in a dog’s cage for three days without providing her with food or water. She was compelled to relieve herself of her waste and urinate on herself in that cage. However, the issue reached Ordinary Ahmed Isah of the well-known reality radio show Brekete Family, which is broadcast daily from Abuja on Human Rights Radio and Television.
Ordinary Ahmed Isah then drew FIDA’s attention, and the organization swiftly acted to seek the enforcement of Mrs. Ali’s fundamental human rights because NAPTIP was unwilling to bring charges against her under the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act of 2015 (VAPP Act).
In an initial motion submitted on May 4, 2022, FIDA demanded N500 million in damages as well as an apology in a major newspaper. Ogechi Abu, a member of the organization and a Firstrate Attorney, handled the case on behalf of FIDA. FIDA thanked the court for treating the case fairly in its response to the ruling of the court.
“FIDA is extremely happy and expresses its gratitude to the court for the swift resolution of the matter, as should be the case in the enforcement of fundamental human rights as guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (As Amended) and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act (Cap 10) Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1990 (As Amended). ”.
A declaration that the applicant’s detention at the first respondent’s home between Sunday, March 20, 2022, and Tuesday, March 22, 2022, without a warrant, court order, or legal justification, is illegal, unlawful, unconstitutional, and a flagrant violation of the applicant’s fundamental right to personal liberty guaranteed by Section 35(1)(a) to (f) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“A declaration that the applicant was subjected to vicious beatings by the first, second, and third respondents at the first respondent’s home on March 20, 2022, and that the first respondent’s subsequent detention of the applicant without a warrant, court order, or legal justification between March 20 and March 22, 2022, while the applicant was imprisoned in the first respondent’s filthy dog’s cage, constituted torture, and was cruel, inhumane, and degrading”.
“A declaration that the applicant’s written commitment to pay N1,200,000.00 to Mr.dot Idris Salim, which was coerced from the applicant at the home of the first respondent on Tuesday, March 22, 2022, without giving the applicant the chance to consult with a lawyer of her choosing, is illegal, unlawful, unconstitutional, and of no legal effect whatsoever.
“An order setting aside the applicant’s written undertaking to pay N1,200,000.00 to Mr.dot Idris Salim, which was forcibly extracted from the applicant by the first respondent at the first respondent’s home on Tuesday, March 22, 2022, without any opportunity given to the applicant to consult with a legal practitioner of her choice; for being illegal, unlawful, unconstitutional, and of no legal effect at all.
“An order perpetual injunction prohibiting the first, second, and third respondents from harassing, intimidating, or threatening the applicant for any reason, including any matter relating to the applicant’s former employment with the first respondent. This order will be enforced indefinitely.
“An order directing the first, second, and third respondents to jointly issue a public letter of apology to the applicant to be published in ThisDay Newspaper or any other newspaper with national circulation for their violation of the applicant’s fundamental rights to personal liberty, human dignity, and private and family life; and in accordance with Section 35(6) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (As Amended).”.
“In accordance with Section 35(6) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (As Amended), damages in the amount of N500 million are sought against the first, second, and third respondents for violating the applicant’s fundamental rights to personal liberty, human dignity, private, and family life as well as for the suffering they caused the applicant.