Businessman Musa Saliu has taken legal action by filing a N500 million lawsuit against the Inspector General of Police and others, alleging violations of his fundamental human rights. Represented by lawyer Femi Motojesi at the FCT High Court, Saliu’s lawsuit also names the DIG of Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department and Funmilola Florence Olorunfemi as co-defendants.
The lawsuit is rooted in sections 34, 35, 41, and 46 of the Nigerian constitution, as well as Articles 5 and 6 of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights Cap 10 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, Saliu claims the police falsely declared him a wanted person in a land dispute published in their Special Police Gazette Bulletin. He argues that this publication, which referenced him with Ref No: CB: 3510/LX/FHQ/SEB/ABJ/T.7/Vo. 1/20, violated his fundamental rights.
Saliu asserts that the police exceeded their authority by involving themselves in a debt recovery matter for Mr. Olorunfemi, who had subscribed to a property in an estate under Saliu’s development.
He seeks court orders to declare the police action unlawful and to unfreeze a bank account (1000129689 with Globus Bank) belonging to Emperor City Integrated Limited, where he is a signatory.
Additionally, Saliu, a politician and former New Nigeria People’s Party governorship candidate in Kogi State, demands N500 million in damages for the violation of his rights to privacy, dignity, personal liberty, and freedom of movement.
In the suit marked FCT/ CV/2839/24, Saliu also requests the court to compel the police to issue an apology published in the Special Police Gazette Bulletin and in two national newspapers.
The suit, dated June 14, was provided to journalists in Abuja. The dispute arose after a payment dispute involving Mr. Olorunfemi and Saliu, leading to the halting of construction at an estate following its demolition by the FCT Department of Development Control.
He said Mr Olorunfemi invited the police to recover her money even after he had notified all the estate subscribers that he was trying to resolve the issue and return to the site. Mr Saliu contended that the relationship between him and Mr Olorunfemi is civil in nature and has no criminal connotation to warrant the police delving into it.
Mr Saliu submitted that inviting him for questioning, blocking his account and publishing his picture and details as a wanted person in the Police Gazette Bulletin was unlawful.
The matter has not been assigned to a judge.
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