Firms Sue IGP, Lagos Police Over Alleged Unlawful Arrests, Detention and Asset Destruction
The Inspector‑General of Police (IGP) and senior officers of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) have been dragged before the FCT High Court, Abuja, in a fundamental rights enforcement action over alleged unlawful arrests, detention, and destruction of assets.
Two Nigerian companies — Landseeds Integrated Services Ltd and Ten Thousand Seeds Ltd — together with five of their employees, instituted a ₦1 billion suit marked CV/65/2026, through their counsel, B. S. Akinwumi.
The applicants, Gbemileke Abiodun, Akinwale Olabode, Adenike Adesoji, Goodluck Olatunde, and Tobi George, accused the respondents of storming their offices on February 10, 2026, in a gestapo‑style operation, destroying company property, and unlawfully arresting three of them. They further alleged that two staff members sustained injuries during the invasion, while the arrested employees were detained in degrading conditions at the Lagos State Police Command.
Respondents named in the suit include the IGP, the NPF, the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, ACP Sadiq Mana (O/C X‑Squad, Lagos Command), and Abayomi Oluwadamilare Sotonade.
The applicants contend that despite identifying the actual suspects in a disputed land transaction — Olabode John Fatoye, Adewale Oluwole, and Shakirat Abiodun Abdusalam — police officers continued to detain and harass them, demanding repayment of ₦23 million allegedly collected by the suspects.
They are asking the court to declare their arrest and detention unlawful, restrain the respondents from further harassment, and award ₦1 billion in damages for breach of their fundamental rights.
