A Lagos State High Court sitting in Yaba will on December 1 hear an application seeking to compel the Federal Government and the Nigeria Police Force to implement a judgment delivered in 2023 over the alleged killing of four youths from Ekwulobia, Anambra State, in 2014.
The families of the deceased are asking the court to enforce the judgment, which reportedly ordered financial compensation and disciplinary action against police officers found culpable in the incident.
The application, filed by Akaraka Chinweike Ezeonara and the Ekwulobia Imeobi Obinwanne Youth Association on behalf of the bereaved families, names the Attorney-General of the Federation, the Inspector-General of Police and the Nigeria Police Force as respondents.
The applicants are seeking an order of mandamus compelling the authorities to comply with the court’s earlier decision, alleging that the judgment remains unenforced despite formal demands and reminders.
Justice Funke Sule-Amzat fixed December 1 for hearing when the matter came up for mention.
According to the applicants, the case began in 2014 but suffered an early setback when the High Court struck it out on March 9, 2015, ruling that the applicants lacked the legal standing to institute a fundamental rights action on behalf of the deceased.
They challenged the decision at the Court of Appeal, Lagos Division, which set it aside on December 15, 2020, and directed that the case be transferred to another judge for rehearing.
Following the rehearing, Justice Sule-Amzat delivered judgment in favour of the applicants on March 15, 2023.
The families now allege that the failure to implement the judgment has denied them the compensation and other reliefs granted by the court.
In their latest application, dated August 17, 2026, the applicants asked the court to compel the Attorney-General of the Federation to exercise the relevant constitutional powers required for enforcement of the judgment.
They also want the Inspector-General of Police and the police force directed to pay the judgment sum and initiate disciplinary proceedings against the officers found responsible.
Another relief sought is an order compelling the authorities to release the remains of the four youths to their families for burial.
The applicants said they sent formal demands and reminders to the Attorney-General and police authorities between April and July 2026 but had yet to secure compliance.
They argued that the court’s intervention was necessary to prevent the judgment from remaining unenforced.
The December 1 hearing is expected to consider their request for orders compelling the relevant authorities to implement the court’s earlier decision.
