Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
A former aide to the Niger State Deputy Governor has filed a N500 million fundamental rights lawsuit against the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, and four others, over an alleged midnight raid on his residence that he says involved assault, abduction, torture, and illegal detention.
Lawal Mu'azu-Obah, a civil servant residing in the Maitumbi area of Minna, filed the suit at the Federal High Court in Minna under the Fundamental Rights Enforcement Procedure. The respondents are the Inspector-General of Police; the Commissioner of Police, Niger State Command; the Police Service Commission; Aliyu Kuta, identified as the Divisional Police Officer of Maitumbi; and Ibrahim Mohammed.
The case stems from an incident in the early hours of Monday, August 24, 2026, when police personnel allegedly raided Mu'azu-Obah's home at about 1:00 a.m. According to sources familiar with the incident, Mu'azu-Obah was asleep with his family when they were awakened by loud banging on the door. The family reportedly feared armed robbers or hired killers had invaded their home.
Before Mu'azu-Obah could properly dress, the men allegedly broke down the door, moved through the living room and went straight to his bedroom. “He was still naked when they entered the room,” a source told SaharaReporters.
The source alleged that one of the men took Mu'azu-Obah's phone and his wife's phone before beating him. The officer reportedly said, “do you know who sent us that we were banging at the door and you could not open it?”. Mu'azu-Obah explained that he was only trying to put on clothes before coming out. One of the men then ordered him to wear a jalabiya and allegedly threatened to shoot him. The officers seized his laptop and a small phone before dragging him out of the house, throwing him into a vehicle and driving away.
It was only after they arrived at the Maitumbi Police Division that Mu'azu-Obah realised the men were security personnel. He reportedly discovered that the DPO, Alkali Kuta, was part of the operation. The DPO ordered him to remove his shoes, stand at a spot and have photographs taken. When asked if he knew what he had done, Mu'azu-Obah said he did not and expected the police to explain his arrest. “The DPO then said that he also didn't know. He said he was only given a directive to pick him up, keep him in their cell and take him to State CID in the morning,” the source said.
Mu'azu-Obah was kept in the police cell until morning. At about 10:00 a.m., he was reportedly handcuffed and taken to the State Criminal Investigation Department headquarters. The Commissioner of Police was unavailable when they arrived. After waiting for about two hours, officers took him to a Deputy Commissioner of Police. The DC asked why Mu'azu-Obah had been arrested. “They said they didn't know but that they were only told to bring him there,” the source said. The DC then asked for his case file. “They said there was no case file. They were only told to bring him there,” the source said. The DC reportedly questioned the officers further, asking: “What are you then transferring? What am I going to talk about?” and ordered the DPO of Maitumbi Police Division to report personally to the State CID.
The arrest may be connected to Mu'azu-Obah's recent political activities, particularly his support for the African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate for the Shiroro Constituency seat, Dr Ibrahim Kuta. He previously worked in the Office of the Deputy Governor, where he defended his principal and the Niger State Government. However, he has recently been promoting Kuta's candidacy and calling for the release of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai. The source alleged that the incident followed an All Progressives Congress programme held in Kuta on Saturday, where the ADC candidate was reportedly booed.
Following the alleged incident, Mu'azu-Obah approached the Federal High Court seeking declarations that the actions of the police officers violated his fundamental rights under the 1999 Constitution and the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights. He is asking the court to declare that the raid and his arrest and detention violated his rights to dignity, personal liberty and freedom of movement under Sections 34, 35 and 41 of the Constitution, as well as under Articles 4, 5, 6 and 12 of the African Charter. He is also seeking a declaration that his treatment at Maitumbi Police Division, which he describes as torture and degrading, inhuman treatment, was unlawful and unconstitutional.
Beyond the declarations, he wants a perpetual injunction restraining the respondents from further violating his rights, along with N500 million in damages, jointly and severally, over the alleged invasion, abduction, torture, degrading treatment and illegal detention. The suit is brought under Sections 34, 35, 41 and 46 of the Constitution, the African Charter (Ratification and Enforcement) Act, and the Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules, 2009.
When contacted for the police's response to the reported arrest and alleged assault, Niger State Police Public Relations Officer, Wasiu Abiodun, said he would need time to verify the development. The allegations of assault and the circumstances surrounding the arrest could not be independently verified as of the time of filing this report.
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