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Court Quashes Charges Against Prof Zainab Abiola, Fines Police N100m
*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.
Federal Capital Territory FCT minister Nyesom Wike is set to inspect Karu Township road due for completion by May 2026 in the next few minutes.
The minister has been monitoring projects in the Territory bumper to bumper to ensure completion in due time.
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The African Democratic Congress (ADC) Legislators’ Forum has strongly condemned the latest move by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to secure Senate approval for an additional external loan of $516,333,070, ostensibly for the Sokoto–Badagry Super Highway project.
This was contained in a statement issued and signed by the regional leaders of the Forum: Hon. Uko Ndukwe Nkole ,PhDChairmanADC -National Legislators’ Forum African Democratic Congress (ADC)
Hon Nnenna Ukeje-SEHon Sergius Ogun-SSHon Ajagbe H -SWHon Zakari Mohammed -NCHon Koko Shehu -NWHon Maigari Bello M-NE stating that:
“This request is not only alarming but emblematic of an administration that has made reckless borrowing its default economic policy, with little regard for sustainability, accountability, or the wellbeing of future generations.
“While no responsible opposition undermines the importance of infrastructure development, we must ask: at what cost, and under what conditions? This government has failed to convincingly demonstrate that its endless appetite for loans is guided by a coherent, transparent, and economically viable repayment strategy.
“Instead, Nigerians are witnessing a troubling pattern; one where debt accumulation is prioritized over prudent fiscal management, innovation, and domestic resource mobilization.
“Nigeria is already weighed down by a crushing debt burden, with debt servicing swallowing a staggering proportion of national revenue. Yet, rather than confronting this reality with discipline and reform, the Tinubu administration continues to plunge the country deeper into what can only be described as a looming debt catastrophe. Each new loan tightens the noose around the nation’s economic sovereignty, leaving future generations to pay for today’s lack of foresight.
“Even more disturbing is the timing of this request. As the nation inches closer to a major general election cycle, Nigerians are right to question the motives behind this borrowing spree.
” Is this truly about development, or is it another attempt to create avenues for political patronage and electoral advantage? History has taught us to be wary of last-minute, large-scale financial commitments made under the guise of national interest.
“The ADC Legislators’ Forum insists that the National Assembly must not act as a rubber stamp or Pro group of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in this matter.
“The Senate, in particular, must rise to its constitutional responsibility by demanding full disclosure of the project’s financial details, procurement processes, cost-benefit analysis, and a credible repayment plan.
“Anything short of this would amount to a betrayal of public trust.
“Furthermore, we call on the administration to redirect its focus toward policies that can genuinely strengthen Nigeria’s economy; policies that promote productivity, industrial growth, job creation, and the plugging of revenue leakages.
“Borrowing should never be a substitute for leadership, creativity, and accountability.
“We must clearly state that governance is not a free ride without consequences. Those who make decisions today that endanger the economic future of millions of Nigerians must understand that a day of reckoning will inevitably come. The Nigerian people will demand answers, accountability, and justice for policies that have deepened hardship and mortgaged the nation’s destiny.
“Nigeria stands at a critical crossroads. We can either choose the path of responsibility, discipline, and sustainable growth, or continue down this perilous road of debt dependency and economic vulnerability. The Tinubu administration must decide where it stands; but Nigerians are watching, and history will not be kind to those who fail this nation.
At least one ISWAP fighter has been captured alive while top commander identified as Abu Umar Bundi Munzir has been neutralised alongside 24 other insurgents in Borno.
The development followed a foiled coordinated attack on Kukareta community in Borno by troops of Operation HADIN KAI.
Maj.-Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar, Theartre Commander, North East Operation Hadin Kai, disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Maiduguri on Thursday, while providing situational update on the failed attack by ISWAP terrorists.
NAN report that the insurgents launched the attack in the early hours of Thursday, shortly after midnight, in an attempt to overrun the location but were decisively engaged by troops of Sector 2 in a sustained counter-offensive that lasted till about 3;00 a.m.
Abubakar said that during the encounter, the terrorists’ commander, Abu Umar Bundi Munzir, was reportedly among those neutralised as troops repelled the assault and forced the remaining attackers into a disorganised withdrawal.
The theartre commander also confirmed that a total of 24 other terrorists were killed in the operation, bringing the overall neutralised figure to 25.
”Troops subsequently conducted exploitation of the battlefield, leading to the recovery of a large cache of arms and ammunition, including 18 AK-47 rifles, three General Purpose Machine Guns, two PKT automatic anti-aircraft guns and three RPG tubes.
”Others include two mortar tubes, four hand grenades, 18 AK-47 magazines, and large quantities of belted 7.62mm ammunition,” he said.
According to him, two soldiers sustained gunshot wounds during the encounter and have since been stabilised, while an armoured reinforcement vehicle had its tyres damaged during the firefight.
He added that further exploitation operations were ongoing to recover fleeing terrorists bodies, and abandoned equipment along withdrawal routes reportedly marked by blood trails and medical items.
The commander described the operation as a significant success in ongoing counter-insurgency efforts, noting that sustained pressure would be maintained to deny terrorist elements freedom of action in the North-East theatre.
(NAN)
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