Lawyer Files Suit Against IGP, Service Chiefs, Demands Resignation Over Insecurity, Banditry
A lawyer, Kabir Akingbolu, has asked the Federal High Court in Lagos to order the Inspector General of Police and eight other service chiefs to resign over the prevailing activities of kidnappers and bandits in different parts of the country.
Other defendants in the suit are the Director General of Department of State Security (DSS), The National Security Adviser (NSA), the Chief of Defence Staff, the Chief of Army Staff, the Chief of Air Staff, the Chief of Naval Staff, the Comptroller General of Customs Service, the Comptroller General of Immigration Service and the Commandant General of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.
The suit marked FHC/LAG/CS/986/26 has been scheduled for hearing on July 6, 2026 before Hon Justice D.E Osiagor of Court 6, Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos.
In the originating summon, the plaintiff, Akingbolu, listed three issues for determination of the court. He asked the court to determine whether by provision of Sections 14(2)(b), 33 and 34 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), Nigerian citizens are entitled to seek judicial intervention where there is an alleged failure by public authorities responsible for national security to adequately protect lives and property.
Citing relevant laws, he asked the court to determine whether having regard to laws relating to each of the agencies and Section 14(2)(b) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended, the persistent and widespread insecurity, loss of lives, kidnappings, banditry, terrorism and other violent crimes across the Federation constitute a failure by the defendants to discharge the constitutional and statutory duties attached to their respective offices and should therefore resign from their various position.
He also asked the court to determine whether the defendants, being public officers charged with the responsibility of maintaining internal security, protecting lives and properties of the citizens, and preserving the territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Nigeria are not accountable to the citizens of Nigeria for acts of omission, negligence and failure to effectively perform the duties of their offices.
The reliefs sought by the plaintiff from the court included an order directing the defendants to resign forthwith from their various positions due to the abysmal failure to discharge the constitutional and statutory duties attached to their respective offices.
The court, he prayed in the alternative, should issue an order directing them to periodically review and strengthen existing security mechanisms and inter-agency cooperation for the purpose of combating insecurity throughout the Federation.
Akingbolu in the relief sought therefore prayed the court to declare that the unabated incidents of terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, armed attacks and other violent crimes across the Federation constitute a serious challenge to the fulfilment of the constitutional and statutory obligation imposed on the defendants and the agencies under their control to protect the citizens including the plaintiff.
He also asked the court to declare that the defendants owed a constitutional and statutory duty to take all lawful and necessary measures within their respective powers to ensure the protection of lives and properties of the citizens of Nigeria including the Plaintiff throughout the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
He also sought declaration from the court that the persistent and continuous attack, kidnapping, maiming, killing and terrorizing of the citizens including unabated by the bandits, terrorists and kidnappers amount to dereliction of duties by the defendants.
He asked the court to declare that the persistent failure of the relevant security institutions to effectively discharge their constitutional mandates amounts to a breach of the constitutional and statutory obligation imposed by Section 14(2)b) of Constitution, Section 4 (a) of the Nigenan Police Act 2020, Section 1(3) of Armed Forces Act (Cap A20), Section 2(3) of National Secunty Agencies Act, Nigeria Custom Service Act 2023, Section 2 of the immigration Act 2015, Section 3(1)(a)-(f) of Nigeria Security And Civil Defence Corps (Amendment Act) 2007.
The plaintiff averred that over the years there has been an alarming increase in incidents of insecurity in various parts of Nigeria.
He submitted that incidents of terrorism, insurgency, kidnapping, armed banditry, communal attacks, violent crimes, killings and destruction of property have become widespread across the Federation. Copy of Newspaper publication is hereby attached as Exhibit A.
He averred that these incidents have resulted in the loss of thousands of Ives and extensive destruction of public and private property.
He deposed that many Nigerians have been displaced from their homes and communities due to insecurity adding that citizens and residents of Nigeria increasingly live In fear for their lives and safety while businesses, economic activities and investments have been adversely affected by the prevailing security challenges.
He averred that despite the existence of various security agencies under the supervision or control of the Defendants, incidents of insecurity continue to occur in several parts of the country.
He argued that the Defendants occupy offices whose statutory and constitutional responsibilities include the protection of lives and property and the maintenance of public safety.
He averred that the defendants having fail to carrying out their constitutional and statutory duties should resign from their respective position.
