Court Dismisses N200m Fundamental Rights Suit Against Bauchi Police

The Federal High Court, Bauchi Judicial Division, has dismissed a N200 million fundamental rights suit filed against the Nigeria Police Force and the Bauchi State Police Command by Dr. Aliyu Sulaiman Wunti.

The judgment was delivered on July 24, 2026, in suit No. FHC/BAU/CS/94/2025, instituted by Dr. Wunti against Alhaji Abdulaziz Tijjani and five others.

The Nigeria Police Force, Inspector-General of Police and Commissioner of Police, Bauchi State Command, were listed as the second, third and fourth respondents respectively.

The applicant had sought several reliefs, including declarations that his fundamental rights to fair hearing and property had been violated.

He also sought perpetual injunctions against the respondents and monetary compensation totalling N200 million, comprising N50 million for alleged demolition of his property, N100 million as general damages and N50 million as cost of the action.

In a statement issued on Friday, the Bauchi State Police Command’s spokesperson, SP Nafiu Habib, said the Command’s legal team, led by the State Legal Officer, mounted a robust defence on behalf of the Force and the Command.

He said after 11 rigorous court sittings, the court held that the applicant failed to establish any breach of his fundamental rights by the respondents.

“Accordingly, the court dismissed the suit in its entirety and awarded costs in the sum of N1 million against the applicant in favour of the first to sixth respondents,” Habib said.

According to him, the judgment effectively protected the Nigeria Police Force and the Bauchi State Police Command from a potential financial liability of N200 million, which could have resulted in garnishee proceedings against the Command and the Force had judgment been entered in favour of the applicant.

The Commissioner of Police, Bauchi State Command, CP Sani-Omolori Aliyu, commended the legal team for its professionalism, diligence, resilience and commitment to duty.

He reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to upholding the rule of law, safeguarding citizens’ rights and defending its personnel who operate within the confines of the law.