An Osogbo-based legal practitioner, Lekan Alabi, and two others, have filed a N500 million suit against the Nigeria Police Force, the Inspector General of Police, and others over allegations bordering on violation of their fundamental human rights.

The suit marked: HOS/M.150/25 and entitled: “In the matter of an application for the enforcement of the fundamental human rights of Lekan Alabi, Mistura Busari, and Najeem Popoola to personal liberty, dignity of person and freedom of movement,” was filed before an Osun State High Court sitting in Osogbo on August 11, 2025.

The two other applicants in the suit are Mistura Busari and Najeem Popoola.

Others joined in the suit as respondents are Omidiran Abass Babatunde, Omidiran Moshood Ademola, Adeleke Adenike Folashade, Alhaji Olatunde Adekunle Badmus, Assistant

Inspector General of Police Zone XI, the Commissioner of Police, Osun State, and the Commissioner of Police Special Weapons and Tactics.

The applicants sought orders enforcing their fundamental rights (brought pursuant to Order 11, Rules 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules, 2009; Sections 34, 35, 36, 37 and 41 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended); Articles 3, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13 and 17 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; Articles 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, 12, 14 and 19 of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights; and under the inherent jurisdiction of the court).

According to the applicants, the police were being used by those who lost out in a land matter case to intimidate and harass them for executing court judgment on a parcel of land belonging to Mistura Busari in Osogbo.

They urged the court to declare, among other declarations, “that the incessant harassment, intimidation, arrest, incarceration, serial invitation of the applicants by the 5th–9th respondents at the instance of the 1st–4th respondents on series of false and unfounded allegations on the 9th day of July, 2025 and 5th day of August, 2025 in respect of subject matter bordering on land matter located along Ikirun road, Osogbo, for which the applicants validly obtained Warrant of Possession to execute and which is still subject of litigation in Suit Number HOS/M.206/2024 between Mrs. Mistura Busari v. Hephzibah Holding Ltd already pending before Osun State High Court, Osogbo Judicial Division, on the suits instituted by the 1st to 4th respondents and others, is unconstitutional, illegal, null and void as it is in violation of the applicants’ fundamental rights to personal liberty, respect for dignity of their person and right to freedom of movement guaranteed by Sections 34, 35, 41, and 46 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).”

The applicants prayed for an order restraining the respondents from any further interference with their fundamental rights in any form, especially as it relates to the series of false allegations in respect of subject matter bordering on land matter located along Ikirun road, Osogbo, for which the applicants validly obtained Warrant of Possession to execute and which is still subject of litigation in Suit Number HOS/M.206/2024 between Mrs. Mistura Busari v. Hephzibah Holding Ltd already pending before Osun State High Court, Osogbo Judicial Division.

“An order compelling the respondents to jointly and severally pay in restitution for the unwarranted breach of the applicants’ constitutionally guaranteed right to personal liberty, dignity of person and freedom of movement, the sum of N500,000,000.00 (Five Hundred Million Naira Only) as general damages. AND for such further or other orders as the Honourable court may deem fit to make in the circumstances of this case,” the applicants urged the court. (The Guardian)