Headlines
Abiola’s children detained by SARS over robbery sue Police Commissioner
BY NICHOLAS ABE
Two sons of late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola, winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, Kassim and Aliyu, arrested and detained over a robbery incident in their family house, have taken the Lagos State Commissioner of Police to court.
They told the court that they were unlawfully arrested and detained at the Special Anti-Robbery Squad in Ikeja, following a complaint lodged by their step-mum, Mrs. Adebisi Abiola, after the robbery on September 2.
Consequently, the duo, according to their lawyer, Mike Ozekhome, SAN, are asking for the enforcement of their rights to personal liberty, dignity of person, right to private and family life, as well as right to freedom of movement.
The Lagos State Commissioner of Police was cited as the sole Respondent in the suit.
Aside demanding for an apology, the Applicants equally asked for an order to compel the Respondent to pay them N100 million as exemplary damages for the “wanton and grave violation” of their fundamental rights.
The court processes revealed that the Applicants, who are both self-employed, were arrested at their homes by the Police in Lagos State over a robbery incident that was said to have occurred inside premises they share with many other persons.
The Applicants told the court that they were discriminatorily singled out as a result of a complaint by their step mum, which accused them of complicity in the robbery.
They told the court that though Police had since conducted several searches at their apartments, nothing incriminating or connecting them with any alleged stolen item belonging to their step mum was found.
Insisting that they were illegally arrested without warrant, the Applicants maintained that Police lacked the constitutional right to keep them in custody for more than 24 hours without an order of a court of competent jurisdiction.
Meanwhile, the Applicants filed an exparte motion and an affidavit of urgency, praying the court to hear their case within the ongoing vacation period.
When the case came up today, Friday September 11, 2020, before the Ikeja High Court vacation Judge, Justice Abiola Soladoye, Messrs Chimaobi Onuigbo and Ejieke Onuoha, holding the brief of Ozekhome, passionately prayed the court to grant bail to the detainees due to their poor health and lengthy detention period in the SARS dungeon since the September 2, 2020.
The Judge however directed that the Commissioner of Police who is the sole Defendant in the matter be put on notice about the suit. She consequently adjourned the matter to the 15th of October, 2020 and ordered that the file be returned to the Assistant Chief Registrar for a re-assignment to a non-vacation Judge, for hearing.