Court Awards N5m Against Police, NIHORT Director Over Lawyer’s Unlawful Arrest and Detention in Kwara
By Globalvoice
The Federal High Court sitting in Ilorin, Kwara State, has awarded N5 million in damages against the Nigeria Police Force and the Director of the National Horticultural Research Institute (NIHORT), Ibadan, Professor Muhammad Lawal Atanda, over the unlawful arrest and detention of a lawyer.
The judgment was delivered on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, in Suit No. FHC/IL/CS/134/2025, filed by Omotosho Kazeem Kareem (Esq.) against the Commissioner of Police, Oyo State, and five other respondents.
According to a report by BarristerNG, Justice Abimbola O. Awogboro ruled that Kareem’s arrest and detention were unlawful and unconstitutional, finding that his fundamental rights to personal liberty and dignity of the human person, as guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution, had been violated.
Court Finds Police Action Unlawful
The court reportedly found that the first to third respondents the Commissioner of Police, Oyo State; Police Service Commission; and Inspector Segun Fawoyi acted unlawfully in connection with Kareem’s arrest and detention.
The court further held that the police actions were allegedly carried out at the instigation of the fourth to sixth respondents.
They were identified as DSP Olufunke Adu, Professor Muhammad Lawal Atanda, Director of NIHORT, Ibadan, and Mr. Lawal Musiliu.
Justice Awogboro reportedly found that the respondents acted in a manner that subjected Kareem to harassment, intimidation and detention without sufficient lawful justification.
N5m Compensation Awarded
In condemning what the court described as the misuse of police powers for personal vendetta and oppression, Justice Awogboro awarded N5 million in compensatory damages against the respondents jointly and severally.
The court's decision described Kareem's arrest and detention as a violation of his constitutionally protected rights.
The judgment adds to growing legal scrutiny of allegations involving the use of security agencies in disputes involving private individuals and public officials.
NBA Members Hail Judgment
Reacting to the ruling, members of the Ilorin Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) described the judgment as a significant victory for the rule of law and the protection of fundamental rights.
The lawyers said the decision should serve as a warning to public officials and security agencies against the alleged abuse of state power.
They also stressed that government officials and security agencies have a duty to respect the fundamental rights of citizens, including lawyers carrying out legitimate professional responsibilities.
The judgment is expected to further fuel discussions around police accountability, unlawful arrest and detention, human rights enforcement and the protection of legal practitioners in Nigeria.
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