Diya, others to pay N5.5m for assaulting, battering mortician

A Lagos High Court, Ikeja has ordered a former Chief of General Staff, Gen. Oladipupo Diya, and other directors of his funeral services firm to pay N5.5m as damages for assaulting and battering a mortician, Mr. Oluwatosin Onamade, in 2008.

Justice Opeyemi Oke, in a judgment on Monday, described the action of Diya and others as “an example of impunity” executed to force Onamade out of the management of the company.

“The action of the defendants is condemnable; it is an arbitrary use of power,” Oke held.

She held that the defendants took the law into their hands by assaulting and battering the claimant and unlawfully seizing his belongings.


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