By Anayo Okoli

ABA – FAMILY members of a suspected kidnapper  alleged to have slumped and died at the Police Area Command, Aba, Abia State, has dragged the police to court, claiming  N1 billion as damages.

The family of late Monday Nwakanma of Umuocho Village, Osisioma, is claiming that their late father was tortured to death and now wants the N1 billion collateral damages.

The suit was instituted on their behalf at High Court 2, Aba, by their lawyer, Mr. Victor Nwugo.
But the police are denying the allegation, insisting that the late suspect was not tortured at all nor beaten.

The police,however, admitted that late Nwakanma was arrested in connection with a kidnapping case, adding that his compound was allegedly used as a hideout for kidnappers.

Beside the late Monday Nwakanma, the police alleged that 11 other suspects were also arrested in the compound, which was described as “a criminal hideout”.

According to the police, among those arrested in the deceased’s residence is one Enyeribe Akwuruoha, described as a notorious armed robber and kidnapper.

The police, in a statement of defence filed by Mr. Okezie Uche, the Police Legal Officer, said every allegation contained in the claimant’s statement was “framed, false, fabricated, concocted and a deliberate ploy to tarnish and rubbish the good image and effort of the police at the Area Command in their effort to eradicate armed robbery and kidnapping in Aba Area Command”.

The police maintained that there was no way its men could torture the late Monday in the open at the Police Area Command, saying he slumped when the victim of kidnapping which allegedly took place in his compound was brought to confront him.