As we wait for a positive response from the Ondo State government on the court judgment ordering payment of 30million naira for the Amotekun victim, this afternoon, we have received a NOTICE OF APPEAL and a motion for stay of execution from the Ondo State Government.
In 2010, a commercial driver, from Ondo State was transporting kegs of palm oil to Lagos when he had encounter with the produce officers of the Ondo State stationed at the boundary of Ondo and Ogun which led to an accident caused by the officers who pursued the driver with their official government Hillux for failing to pay N2000 produce money and his vehicle somersaulted and gutted fire at J4 axis of Ogun state. I was a little above two years at the bar and I took up that case and filed at the Ijebu-Ode High Court. In 2011, we got judgment in favour of the helpless commercial driver who was awarded damages of N5.1million for his loss against the Ondo State government.
This same fear expressed by folks that Ondo government would not comply with that judgment in 2011 is the same fear being genuinely expressed now.
But in 2011, Ondo state acted in a different direction. I received a call from the Attorney-General of Ondo State then, Eyitayo Jegede SAN, who invited me to Ondo State and assured that he would personally take the judgment to the governor, His Excellency Olusegun Mimiko and that he would advise the government to comply. He did as promised and the government complied with the judgment in November 2011, five months after some waiting, but upon assurances and constant communication.
Today, such very rare chance for a lasting legacy is presented now to the Attorney-General and the Governor of Ondo State. Mr. Oluwasegun Oluwarotimi, is now without a leg and we could call him the government amputee and his welfare, as amputee citizen is the duty of the government.
The judgment sum is 30million. And we may ask, how much is a man’s leg worth?
The June 29, 2011 edition of the Nation newspaper reported the case and on the July 1st, 2011, it made the Nation’s editorial, entitled: Bad Example. But the government actors acted wisely then and history never forgets.
In the pictures are:
No. 1:
Ondo State government Notice of Appeal on Amotekun judgment.
No.2:
The Nation editorial titled ” Bad Example”, of July 1, 2011 on the judgment against Ondo state govt.
No.3:
The judgment of 2011, against Ondo State government, reported in the Nation newspaper edition of June 29, 2011.
No. 4:
Price of artificial leg in the market.
If a good prosthetic leg, above the kneel type, costs around 15million naira, then can 30million compensation be too much for a citizen you turned to an amputee?