Bizman Sues IGP, Abiola’s Daughter Over Detention

Chairman of Platform Capital, Dr. Akintoye Akindele, has dragged the inspector-general of police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun and four others before the Federal High Court in Lagos for allegedly detaining him beyond the constitutional limit.

The businessman in a fundamental rights enforcement suit is asking the court to order the police to immediately release him, having been continuously incarcerated for more than 96 hours after his arrest.

Also joined as defendants in the suit are the Nigeria Police Force (first respondent), Summit Oil International Limited (third respondent), Dr Zulikat Wuraola Abiola (fourth respondent), Duport Energy Limited (fifth respondent), and Oluwatosin Odusanya (sixth respondent).

The applicant in the suit filed through his lawyer, Chief Bolaji Ayorinde (SAN), sought for an order of perpetual Injunction restraining the Respondents, whether by themselves, agents, servant privies or any other person acting on or purporting to act on the pespondents’ instructions or otherwise, from further detaining or harassing the applicant or otherwise violating the applicant’s Fundamental Human Rights as guaranteed by the Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, and African Charter on Human And Peoples Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act, 2004.

The applicant also asked for “a declaration that it is not the statutory function of the Nigeria Police and the IGP to act as a debt recovery agent and extract payment terms from the applicant on contractual obligations between the applicant and the third to sixth respondent.

“A declaration that the continuous detention of the Applicant by the first and second respondents constitutes a gross violation of the applicant’s right to personal liberty and freedom of movement and therefore contrary to section 35 and 41(1) constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as Amended) and Articles 4, 5, 6, and 12(1) of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act Cap A9 LFN, 2004.