The court's decision comes in response to the distressing incident that occurred in December 2020, where Constable Gene was allegedly kidnapped by hoodlums during an operation in Aba-titun village, Ijebu Igbo, Ijebu North Local Government.
Tragically, Constable Gene's fate remains unknown, leaving his family in anguish. His wife was pregnant at the time of the incident, adding to the emotional toll on the family.
Despite their pleas and petition to the police authorities for intervention in finding the missing officer, no satisfactory response was received.
In September 2021, the family sought legal recourse through their counsel, Kehinde Bamiwola, prompting them to approach the National Industrial Court in Ibadan.
The case (Suit no NICN/IB/74/2021) was brought before Justice Opeloye A. Ogunbowale and involved the claimants, Jimoh Gene and Comfort Gene, against the Police Service Commission, the Inspector-General of Police, and three others.
The family accused the then DPO of Ijebu-Igbo, Kazeem Solatan, of negligence, asserting that he took Constable Gene on a land-grabbing operation at Aba-titun, Ijebu-Igbo, which led to the officer's disappearance.
In their prayers, the claimants sought the safe recovery of their son and compensation of N20 million to support the family in coping with the ordeal.
In his judgment on Thursday, Justice Ogunbowale found the police liable for negligence under the doctrine of Vicarious Liability, holding them responsible for exposing Constable Gene to extreme danger.
As a result, the court ordered the NPF to make all efforts to find and produce Gene, either dead or alive.
Additionally, the court mandated the NPF to pay the sum of N20 million to the grieving family within 30 days, along with N300,000 as litigation costs.
The ruling highlights the need for accountability within the police force and emphasizes the importance of taking all necessary measures to ensure the safety and well-being of officers during operations.
The outcome of this case serves as a reminder that negligence has consequences, and justice must prevail to provide solace and support to the families of those affected by such tragic incidents.