BREAKING: Court Slams N5 Million Damages Against Police, Prof. Muhammad Lawal Atanda, NIHORT Director, Over Unlawful Arrest and Detention of Lawyer in Ilorin
In a bold defence of the rule of law and citizens’ fundamental rights, the Federal High Court sitting in Ilorin, Kwara State, has awarded N5 Million damages against the Nigeria Police Force and the Director of the National Horticultural Research Institute (NIHORT), Ibadan, Professor Muhammad Lawal Atanda, for the unlawful arrest and detention of a legal practitioner.
Delivering judgment on Wednesday, 30th September, 2026 in Suit No: FHC/IL/CS/134/2025 – Omotosho Kazeem Kareem (Esq) Vs. Commissioner of Police, Oyo State & 5 Ors., His Lordship, Hon. Justice Abimbola O. Awogboro, declared that the arrest and detention of Mr. Omotosho Kazeem Kareem, a lawyer, was illegal, unconstitutional, and a gross violation of his fundamental rights to personal liberty and dignity of human person as guaranteed under the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).
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The Court held that the 1st to 3rd Respondents: the Commissioner of Police, Oyo State, the Police Service Commission, and Inspector Segun Fawoyi, acted unlawfully at the instigation of the 4th to 6th Respondents: DSP Olufunke Adu, Prof. Muhammad Lawal Atanda, Director of NIHORT, Ibadan, Oyo State, and Mr. Lawal Musiliu to harass, intimidate and detain the lawyer without any lawful justification.
Justice Awogboro strongly condemned the use of the Police as a tool for personal vendetta and oppression, and consequently awarded the sum of N5,000,000.00 (Five Million Naira) as compensatory damages against the Respondents jointly and severally.
Reacting to the judgment, members of Ilorin Branch say it is a landmark victory and a timely warning to highly placed public officers and security agencies who abuse their powers to witch-hunt and intimidate citizens, including legal practitioners in the lawful discharge of their duties.
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