*Orders public apology, condemns rights violations
By Francesca Hangeior
The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, has dismissed all allegations brought against Professor Zainab Duke-Abiola, widow of the late Chief M.K.O. Abiola, describing the actions of the Nigeria Police as unlawful and abusive.
Delivering judgment, Justice E. Okpe held that the conduct of the police was “inhuman, degrading, and a clear violation” of the claimant’s constitutional and internationally guaranteed rights.
The court awarded N100 million in damages against the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), former Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, and four other defendants.
Prof Abiola had approached the court over alleged harassment, intimidation, and a media trial by the police following claims that she assaulted a police orderly—an allegation she consistently denied.
The defendants in the suit include the NPF, Inspector Teju Moses, former IGP Usman Alkali Baba, FCT Commissioner of Police Ibrahim Umar, and Magistrate Elizabeth Wonni.
In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2370/2022, the claimant argued that the allegations and subsequent publications by the police severely damaged her reputation, causing emotional distress, health challenges, and reputational harm both locally and internationally.
She maintained that the alleged assault never occurred, insisting she neither assaulted the orderly nor directed anyone to do so, adding that available surveillance evidence could disprove the claims.
In a strongly worded ruling, the court described the police action as a “calculated attempt to frame her up” and an abuse of power amounting to political persecution.
“What occurred was a forceful abduction—a brazen violation of Professor Abiola’s dignity, liberty, and constitutional rights,” the court held, warning that the case highlights the dangers of unchecked abuse by law enforcement agencies.
Justice Okpe further ordered the police to publish a public apology in two national newspapers and issued a perpetual injunction restraining them from further harassment or intimidation of the claimant.
The court also recalled an earlier ruling by Justice Modupe Osho-Adebiyi, which declared Prof Abiola’s arrest and detention without arraignment unlawful and unconstitutional.
It could be recalled that Honourable Justice Modupe Osho-Adebiyi also ruled that her abduction and detention without arraignment were unlawful and unconstitutional, and that the manner of her seizure violated her right to human dignity, ordering damages and public apologies.
She held that the police failed to prove any case whatsoever against her adding that they completely relied on unsubstantiated claims.
Professor Zainab Duke-Abiola is a Distinguished Alumnus of NIPSS, she is a holder of several Doctorate degrees in various fields.
She is an internationally recognised expert in Peace studies and Conflict Resolution. Those who know her describe her as soft spoken and a lady of impeccable good manners and gentility.
She is also the widow of the democratic icon and winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola (MKO Abiola) having married him in the highest recognised legal standing both nationally and intercontinentally, solemnized under the historic 1837 European Matrimonial Act, thereby placing her status, dignity, and legitimacy wholly unassailable.