News
Court Slams ₦100 Million On IGP, NPF, And PSC
The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), and the Police Service Commission (PSC) have been ordered to pay ₦ 100,000 million in damages by a Federal High Court sitting in Osogbo.
Naija News reports that the court on Monday imposed ₦100,000 million damages on Egbetokun, the NPF, and the PSC for breaching the law in their attempt to stop the February 22, 2025, local government election in Osun State.
Honourable Justice A. A Demi-Ajayi, while delivering judgment in the suit marked FHC/OS/CS/41/2025, held that the sealing of the offices of the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC) and arrest of staff of the commission in the build-up to the election was unlawful as the Police authority failed to provide any law that was broken to warrant its action.
The judge noted that the evidence presented before the court showed that the election was held in compliance with the relevant sections of the Electoral Act, 2022, and other enabling laws, leaving the Police with no legal justification to interfere with the process.
The suit, which has the OSSIEC and its Chairman, Barrister Hashim Abioye as claimants, had prayed the court to hold that the action of the Inspector-General of Police and officers of the Nigerian Police in sealing Commission’sission’s Head office and offices across the state a few hours to the local governments election in the state, the threat to arrest OSSIEC Chairman, and eventually arrests of ad-hoc officers engaged by it, was unlawful.
In suit, the claimants asked the court to determine “whether the plaintiffs, generally, severally and variously, are not entitled to enjoy their fundamental rights to liberty, right to private life, right to dignity of human person and right to own movable and immovable property as enshrined under Chapter IV of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended) and African Charter on Human and People’s Rights.”
They also contended that the action of the Police reflected partisanship and urged the court to declare the arrest and detention of staff Commission in the build-up to the February 22, 2025, local government election as illegal and unlawful, “while the threat of further arrest and/or continuing detention of the plaintiffs’ staff by the defendants is illegal, unlawful.”
Besides, the claimants argued that the local government’s election was ordered by the court and described the conduct of the Police as an affront to the judiciary, which they prayed the court to hold against the IGP and the Police authority by awarding an aggravated damage of N2 billion against them.
The claimants request that the court restrain the IGP or any of its agents from continuing to overreach their power by interfering with the Commission’s lawful duties, and plead with the court to grant their request in the interest of justice.
However, the defendant acknowledged the sealing off of the offices of OSSIEC and the arrest of its staff, stating that the step was a preemptive measure to prevent the commission of a crime.
In an affidavit deposed to by Inspector Ogunmokun Abiodun, the Police noted that its action was not carried out arbitrarily but “was founded on the credible suspicion their engagement in actions deemed to have violated the Electoral laws and other applicable laws as opposed to the averment contained in paragraph 14 of the plaintiffs’ affidavit.”
He contended that the claimants had exaggerated the development, as the Police only performed their duty of ensuring peace and order, urging the court to dismiss the suit as frivolous.
He denied the allegation of partisanship raised against the IGP and the Police authority by the plaintiffs, noting that it was acting within the scope of its constitutional and statutory duties.
Reacting to the judgment, OSSIEC Chairman, Hashim Abioye, extolled the judiciary, asserting that justice has been served. He also commended the legal team led by Maruf Adediran Esq., saying that history already has in its records the illegal action of the Police in interfering with grassroots democracy in Osun State, and that at every time, that book will speak to the generations to come.
The trial of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, was on Monday stalled after two co-defendants failed to appear before a Federal High Court in Kaduna.
El-Rufai, who is standing trial on charges of alleged abuse of office, fraud, and financial misconduct filed by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), was present in court for the proceedings.
The former governor arrived at the court alongside officials of the ICPC, operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), and police personnel.
However, the court could not proceed with the case due to the absence of the two co-defendants, leading to an adjournment.
The matter was subsequently adjourned to June 28, 2026, for continuation of the hearing.
El-Rufai has consistently denied all allegations against him, while prosecutors allege that public funds were improperly released for projects that were either not executed or were irregularly handled during his tenure as governor.
The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Accord Party (AP), and three other political parties.
Justice Peter Lifu, who delivered the judgment, also directed that the order apply to the Action Peoples Party (APP), Action Alliance (AA), and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).
The ruling stemmed from a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2637/2026, filed by the National Forum of Former Legislators.
In the suit, the plaintiffs asked the court to determine whether INEC has a constitutional obligation to deregister political parties that fail to meet the performance thresholds set out in Section 225A of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the Electoral Act 2022, and INEC regulations.
According to the former legislators, the five political parties had consistently failed to meet the required constitutional benchmarks. These include winning at least 25 percent of votes in a state during a presidential election or securing at least one elective seat at the national, state, or local government level.
They further told the court that the ADC and the four other parties performed poorly in the 2023 general elections and subsequent by-elections, failing to secure seats across key tiers of government. The plaintiffs argued that the continued recognition of the parties is unlawful and undermines the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral system.
On that basis, they urged the court to declare that INEC is duty-bound to deregister such parties and compel the commission to do so before preparations for the 2027 elections progress further. They also sought, and obtained, an order restraining the affected parties from participating in elections or engaging in political activities such as campaigns, rallies, and primaries.
Additionally, the suit sought an injunction barring INEC from recognizing or dealing with the parties in any official capacity.
The Borno, Oyo, Kebbi, Kano and Niger State Governments has declared Tuesday a public holiday to commorate the first day of the Islamic Calender Year, 1448 after Hijira.
The year 1448 AH (Anno Hegirae) is the current year in the Islamic calendar.
Since the Hijri calendar is based on lunar cycles, it is approximately 11 to 12 days shorter than the Gregorian calendar.
As a result, the year 1448 AH overlaps parts of both the 2026 and 2027 Gregorian calendar years.
In a statement released on Sunday, the state Commissioner for Information and Internal Security, Usman Tar urged residents to use the period to rededicate themselves to peaceful co-existance and service to humanity and development.
The statement reads “This is to inform the general public that His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Borno State, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, CON, mni, FNSE, has declared Tuesday 1st Day of Muharram 1448 After Hijira (AH), which is equivalent to Tuesday 16th June 2026 as a Public Holiday to commerate the first day of the Islamic Calender Year 1448 (AH).
“All citizens are therefore enjoined to be faithful and reflect on this important date and rededicate themselves to peaceful co-existance and service to humanity and development of our dear state in particular” he stated.
Tar also enjoined citizens to embrace the virtues of unity, solidarity, togetherness, tolerance, justice, mercy and multiculturalism that are essential to ensuring unity in diversity and unity of mankind.
“The Government and good people of Borno are committed to the unity, prosperity and existence of Nigeria, and to projecting Nigeria’s good image among the comity of nations in a globalised universe” he noted.
The commissioner said Governor Zulum enjoined the people of the state to pray for a peaceful, plural democratic entity, calling on all communities and faith groups to live in harmony and togetherness.
The Oyo State Government has declared Tuesday, June 16, 2026, as a public holiday.
This was made known in a circular signed by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Musibau Adetunji Babatunde, and made available to newsmen on Monday.
According to the release, the work-free day is in honour of the Hijrah 1448AH celebration across the world. The government urged the citizens, especially Muslim faithful, to use the occasion to pray for the continued peace, unity, and progress of the state and the country in general.
The Niger State Government has declared Tuesday, June 16, 2026, a work-free day across the state to mark the commencement of the Islamic New Year 1448 AH.
The declaration, approved by Mohammed Umaru Bago, is intended to enable Muslims and other residents to reflect on the spiritual significance of the Hijrah—the historic migration of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) from Makkah to Madinah.
The Secretary to the Government of Niger State, Abubakar Usman, described the Hijrah as a symbol of sacrifice, perseverance, faith, discipline, resilience, and commitment to righteousness.
The Kano State Government has declared Tuesday, June 16, 2026, a public holiday to commemorate the beginning of the Islamic New Year, 1448 AH.
The announcement was made in a statement issued on Monday by the State Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Comrade Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya.
Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf congratulated Muslims in Kano State and across the country on witnessing the new Islamic year, which begins with Muharram, the first month of the Islamic lunar calendar.
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