Senior Lawyer Petitions IGP Over Alleged Torture, Illegal Detention Of 85-yr-old Security Guard In Abuja

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Godwin Sunday Ogboji, has petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Tunji Disu, seeking a thorough, independent and transparent probe into the alleged unlawful arrest, detention and torture of an 85-year-old man, Aliyu Abubakar, in Abuja

In a petition dated March 26, 2026, Ogboji accused a suspected land grabber, Adesoye Mayowa Ezekiel, of allegedly orchestrating the arrest with the backing of some police officers. He urged the police hierarchy to identify and discipline all personnel implicated in what he described as a grave abuse of power and violation of constitutional rights of the victim.

According to the lawyer, Abubakar was employed as a security guard at a disputed property located in Lugbe 1 Extension Layout in Abuja, which is currently the subject of litigation before a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, sitting at Maitama, in Suit No: FCT/HC/CV/2123/25; and another case with suit No: FCT/HC/BW/CV/298/24, pending at the Bwari Division of the High Court since 2024.

Ogboji alleged that while on duty on March 24, 2026, the octogenarian was forcefully taken away by Ezekiel and police officers “in flagrant abuse of police powers,” despite the matter being before the courts.

He further claimed that the elderly man was treated like a criminal and subjected to days of detention under harsh and degrading conditions, leaving him severely traumatised and hospitalised.

“An 85-year-old man who has lived his entire life in honest service to others now lies in hospital, broken in body, mind and spirit, because a man decided to turn the machinery of state against him,” the petition read.

The senior lawyer said the incident had worsened his client’s health, noting that Abubakar, who suffers from hypertension and other age-related ailments, is now in critical condition.

He described the arrest as a deliberate attempt to intimidate a vulnerable individual, adding that the actions of the suspected perpetrators amounted to torture and a breach of fundamental rights, including dignity of the human person and personal liberty as guaranteed under the Constitution.

The petition also accused the suspects of using the police to interfere in ongoing civil disputes, stressing that the law prohibits arrest in matters that are purely civil in nature.

Beyond the arrest, Ogboji alleged that the victim’s personal belongings and a kiosk he operated were destroyed during the incident.

The lawyer called on the police authorities to prosecute the said Ezekiel and any other officers involved, warning that failure to act decisively would embolden others who exploit law enforcement to harass innocent citizens.

He also demanded an immediate halt to any planned prosecution of his client, payment of his medical bills, provision of protection for him and the disputed property, and safeguards against further harassment while the court cases remain pending.

Ogboji appealed to the IGP to act not only in line with his constitutional duty but also on humanitarian grounds, insisting that such conduct has no place in a democratic society governed by the rule of law.

“We trust in the constitutional responsibility and professional integrity of the Nigeria Police Force under your distinguished leadership to intervene decisively and uphold the sanctity of the law,” he said.

The development comes amid renewed scrutiny of police conduct in Nigeria. In December 2025, President Bola Tinubu condemned the misuse of police personnel by private individuals and ordered the withdrawal of officers from non-essential VIP duties.

Similarly, following his appointment, IGP Disu had pledged to end impunity within the Force, vowing to enforce strict adherence to human rights standards and a zero-tolerance policy on corruption.

Despite these assurances, concerns persisted over the continued use of security operatives by private actors to settle personal disputes, raising fresh questions about accountability within the system.