A former member of the Ondo State House of Assembly and All Progressives Congress (APC) aspirant for the Owo/Ose Federal Constituency, Hon. Ayodeji Arowele, has dragged the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) and the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) to court over his arrest a few hours before the party’s primary election on May 16, 2026.

Arowele, a two-term lawmaker, is seeking N50 million in damages for what he described as the violation of his fundamental rights.

The suit, filed through his counsel, Chief Kunle Ijalana, was brought under Order 11 Rules 1, 2, 3 and 5 of the Fundamental Rights Enforcement Procedure Rules.

Named as defendants in the suit are the Nigeria Police Force, ASP Ebito Ephraim, CSP Hilary Mazi and Mr. Yusuf Sanya Isiaka, who allegedly petitioned against him.

According to the court documents, Arowele contended that his arrest violated his constitutional rights to privacy, personal liberty and human dignity as guaranteed under the 1999 Constitution.

He alleged that about 30 policemen led by CSP Hilary Mazi and ASP Ebito Ephraim, who claimed to be members of the IGP Response Team, stormed his hotel room in Owo without a warrant and arrested him.

The former lawmaker described the operation as being carried out in a “Gestapo manner,” alleging that he was rough-handled despite not resisting arrest.

He further claimed that his security aides from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) were assaulted during the operation, with one operative reportedly losing a tooth.

Arowele stated that he was detained for about six hours before being granted bail at the office of the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 17, Akure, after making a statement. He said he was subsequently directed to report to Abuja after the APC primary election.

According to him, the timing of the arrest was suspicious, as the primary election for the Owo/Ose Federal Constituency ticket was scheduled for the same day.

“The primary election was ordinarily slated for the same day our client was arrested,” the court filing stated.

Arowele was contesting the APC ticket for the Owo/Ose Federal Constituency ahead of the 2027 general election.

He also alleged that despite being granted bail and the matter subsequently transferred to the Area Commander in Owo for investigation, the officers involved in the case continued to threaten him and repeatedly demand that he report in Abuja.

The suit was filed less than 24 hours after Ondo State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Idowu Ajanaku, raised concerns over the activities of operatives of the Force Intelligence Department in parts of the state.

In the suit, Arowele is seeking a declaration that the invasion of his hotel room and subsequent arrest were illegal, unconstitutional and a violation of his fundamental rights.

He is also asking the court to declare that the continued threats of arrest despite the transfer of the case to the Owo Area Command amount to abuse of power and double jeopardy.

The former lawmaker further prayed the court to grant a perpetual injunction restraining the police and their agents from further arresting, harassing or intimidating him over the matter.

In addition to the court action, Arowele has petitioned the Inspector-General of Police over the conduct of the officers involved in the operation.

In the petition, his lawyer alleged that multiple police formations had invited and arrested his client over the same allegations, despite the matter already being under investigation by the appropriate police command.

The petition maintained that the officers acted without a warrant and subjected both Arowele and his security personnel to unlawful treatment during the arrest.

It also noted that Arowele was later invited by the Area Commander in Owo on June 10, 2026, and informed that the command had been directed to investigate a petition filed against him by Mr. Yusuf Sanya Isiaka.

According to Ijalana, the continued calls from the officers demanding that his client appear in Abuja, despite the transfer of the case file, have raised concerns about possible harassment and abuse of process. (Vanguard)

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