Police IG, Lagos Police Commissioner Sued For N25 Million Over Neglect Of Mother And Child

The family of a woman, Taskirat Anjolaiya, who was hit by a reckless and negligent police driver and knocked into a comatose state along with her new born baby, has filed a N25 million lawsuit against the police.

Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Dahiru Abubakar and the Lagos State Commissioner of Police Umar Manko are named as defendants in the lawsuit.

The accident occurred three months ago in Lagos as a police driver in an official van drove in the wrong direction on a one-way street.

The lawsuit alleges that the culprit, Corporal Friday Azukah, drove an official police van recklessly, hitting the nursing mother and her baby on June 23, 2013 as they alighted from a commercial vehicle at Church bus stop along the busy Oshodi-Apapa Express road in Lagos.

The accident occurred as Corporal Azukah drove a female friend of his supervisor, Divisional Police Officer Ibrahim Zango of FESTAC police station, to catch a flight for which she was almost late.

Eyewitnesses stated that the police driver cut into the one-way lane of the express road to avoid traffic, speeding dangerously until he knocked down the victims.

After the accident, Corporal Azukah had focused on arranging a cab to transport his superior's mistress to the airport. He later deposited N70, 000 at a hospital so that the victims could be admitted for treatment.

But the victims' family said they have since incurred costs running into millions of naira both in medical treatment and sundry care for both victims.

Doctors at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital diagnosed Mrs. Taskirat with pelvic fracture as well as severe brain and other internal injuries. Her baby, Ammarah Eletu, reportedly suffered a broken jaw among other serious injuries.

In addition to seeking N25 million in general damages, the lawsuit also seeks N1.7 million in specific damages.