Court Orders Arrest of Kwara NSCDC Commandant Over Alleged Assault on Lawyer
A Magistrate Court sitting in Ilorin, Kwara State, has ordered the arrest of the State Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Abbas Mohammed, for failing to appear in an ongoing criminal case involving two NSCDC officers accused of assaulting a lawyer.
Presiding Chief Magistrate Adebayo Dupe directed the Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Adekimi Ojo, to arrest and produce the commandant in court on June 10, 2026. The order followed an application by counsel to Barrister Aladodo Abdullateef Nurudeen, who was allegedly assaulted by NSCDC officers Ajayi Williams Gbolahan and Busari Babatunde.
Counsel for the complainant, Prof. D.A. Ariyo‑Osu, argued that the commandant’s repeated failure to comply with earlier directives to produce the defendants and personally appear before the court amounted to contempt and disrespect for judicial authority. He urged the court to issue a warrant of arrest against the NSCDC boss for disregarding lawful orders.
In response, counsel for the NSCDC officers, A. Imam, informed the court that the command had petitioned the office of the Kwara State Chief Judge seeking reassignment of the matter, citing alleged loss of confidence in the presiding court.
The case originated from a direct criminal complaint filed by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ilorin Branch, against the two NSCDC officers. According to the complaint dated April 14, 2026, the incident occurred on April 10, 2026, when Barrister Nurudeen visited the NSCDC office in Ilorin in his professional capacity. Despite identifying himself as a legal practitioner, he was allegedly confronted, assaulted, and dragged into a room where he was further brutalized.
The NBA described the assault as “unprovoked” and a “blatant abuse of power,” alleging that the commandant was present during the incident but failed to intervene. The association stated that the actions of the officers amounted to offences of assault, causing hurt, criminal intimidation, insult, and annoyance, contrary to Sections 265, 246, and 396 of the Penal Code Law.
At a previous hearing, prosecution counsel informed the court that the commandant had failed to obey earlier orders to produce the accused officers. The prosecution applied for a warrant of arrest against the officers and a summons compelling the commandant’s appearance. Counsel for the NSCDC, M.M. Kolo, apologised for the absence of the commandant, explaining that one defendant had absconded after disciplinary proceedings, while the other could not be officially identified.
The court subsequently granted the prosecution’s applications and adjourned the matter for further hearing, underscoring the judiciary’s resolve to enforce compliance with its orders.
