Osun PDP Chairman, OSSIEC drag IGP to court over alleged unlawful arrests

By Deborah Oladejo, Osogbo
The Chairman of the Osun State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Sunday Bisi, has filed a suit at the Federal High Court in Osogbo to prevent his alleged unlawful arrest by the Nigeria Police.
Similarly, the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC) and its chairman, Barr. Hashim Abioye, have filed a separate N2 billion lawsuit against the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and the Osun State Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Abba, for alleged breach of fundamental rights.
Bisi described the planned arrest by the IGP and his agents, despite having committed no crime known to law, as a violation of his fundamental rights to personal liberty, freedom of movement, expression, and association.
According to the suit filed by the PDP chairman, *”The plaintiff, by virtue of Sections 35, 39, 40, 41, and 46 under Chapter IV of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, is entitled to enjoy his rights to personal liberty, freedom of movement, freedom of expression, and freedom of association.
*”The plaintiff, being a citizen of Nigeria, has the right to move freely without any inhibition, express his thoughts, associate freely, and enjoy his dignity without being harassed, intimidated, or hindered in any way or manner.
“The 1st–3rd defendants are rigorously attempting to violate the plaintiff’s fundamental rights to personal liberty, freedom of movement, freedom of expression, and freedom of association.”
Meanwhile, OSSIEC and its chairman have demanded damages for the alleged harassment, intimidation, and detention of some ad-hoc staff without any legal justification.
It would be recalled that the OSSIEC headquarters was sealed off by the police a day before the local government elections held on Saturday, February 22, 2025, in the state.
The court summons reads:
“A DECLARATION THAT the plaintiffs, generally, severally, and variously, are entitled to enjoy their fundamental rights to liberty, private life, and dignity of the human person as enshrined under Chapter IV of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended) and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
“A DECLARATION THAT in accordance with the provisions of Chapter IV of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended) and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the defendants were not justified in arresting and detaining the plaintiffs’ staff, particularly in relation to the election conducted by the plaintiffs on February 22, 2025. Therefore, the arrest and detention were illegal and unlawful, while any threat of further arrest and/or continued detention is also illegal and unlawful.
“A DECLARATION THAT the defendants were not justified in invading and sealing off the plaintiffs’ office premises and threatening to arrest the plaintiffs and their staff in blatant disregard of their rights to private life and liberty, particularly concerning the peaceful, free, and fair election conducted by the plaintiffs on February 22, 2025.
“AN ORDER directing the defendants to immediately vacate and unseal the plaintiffs’ office premises and release the plaintiffs’ staff arrested in connection with the peaceful, free, and fair election conducted on February 22, 2025.
“AN ORDER restraining all the defendants from arresting, detaining, or taking any action that could infringe upon the fundamental rights of the plaintiffs to liberty, private life, and property, as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended) and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, particularly concerning the free and fair election conducted on February 22, 2025.
“AN ORDER directing the defendants, jointly and severally, to pay the plaintiffs the sum of N2 billion as damages for instigating and committing the breach of the fundamental rights of the plaintiffs and their staff to liberty, dignity, and private life.”