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Dontrell Stephens |
On Wednesday, a federal jury in Florida, the United States (U.S.) awarded $23.1 million to a 22-year-old Black American, Dontrell Stephens, who was shot by a policeman, Sergeant Adams Lin.
A sober
Lin confessed to the jury that he mistakingly shot Stephens, who was
riding a bicycle, thinking that he wanted to pull a gun.
The jury, while awarding the $23.1 million damages, ruled that Lin violated Stephens' civil rights.
Stephens uses wheelchair now.
It was in the same United States a few years ago that a Jacksonville teenager was given $3.5 million when a large branch from a city-owned tree broke off and hit him in the head, paralysing him.
The city admitted that it owned the tree and if any American gets injured, directly or indirectly because of the location of the tree, it was culpable.
It is like a branch of a tree in a government office in Iyana Ipaja, Lagos falling on an average Lagosian.
Also remember that in the same U.S., a speeding sheriff deputy's car hit a teenager's car, causing her permanent injury. She was paid $10.7 million.
It is like a police patrol vehicle hitting the car of an average Nigerian in Abuja.
The United States practises a presidential system of government. Same applies in Nigeria.
But do we value life the same way?
Do we treat citizens the same way?
Hmmmmmmm.
The jury, while awarding the $23.1 million damages, ruled that Lin violated Stephens' civil rights.
Stephens uses wheelchair now.
It was in the same United States a few years ago that a Jacksonville teenager was given $3.5 million when a large branch from a city-owned tree broke off and hit him in the head, paralysing him.
The city admitted that it owned the tree and if any American gets injured, directly or indirectly because of the location of the tree, it was culpable.
It is like a branch of a tree in a government office in Iyana Ipaja, Lagos falling on an average Lagosian.
Also remember that in the same U.S., a speeding sheriff deputy's car hit a teenager's car, causing her permanent injury. She was paid $10.7 million.
It is like a police patrol vehicle hitting the car of an average Nigerian in Abuja.
The United States practises a presidential system of government. Same applies in Nigeria.
But do we value life the same way?
Do we treat citizens the same way?
Hmmmmmmm.
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