By Akinsuroju Olubunmi
Businessman seeks N500m from Police over wanted declaration.
A businessman, Musa Saliu, has taken legal action against the Inspector General of Police for falsely declaring him wanted in a land dispute. Filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja, Saliu’s suit accuses the police of violating his fundamental rights by publishing his picture and name in the Special Police Gazette bulletin with Ref No: CB: 3510/LX/FHQ/SEB/ABJ/T.7/Vo. 1/20.
The suit, marked CV/2839/24, lists the Inspector-General of Police, Deputy Inspector General of Police, Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department, and Funmilola Olorunfemi as respondents. Saliu, represented by his lawyer Femi Motojesi, argues that the police acted beyond their authority by intervening in what he claims is a civil dispute over a land transaction.
Saliu, a politician and former New Nigeria Peoples Party governorship candidate in Kogi State’s 2023 election, explained that the issue began when Olorunfemi paid N25 million for a house in his under-construction estate. The project halted after the FCT Department of Development Control demolished the estate, leading Olorunfemi to involve the police to recover her money despite Saliu’s efforts to resolve the situation and resume construction.
In his suit, Saliu contends that the police’s actions constitute a fundamental rights violation under sections 34, 35, 41, and 46 of the Nigerian Constitution and articles 5 and 6 of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights. He demands an apology from the police, published in the Special Police Gazette bulletin and two national newspapers, and seeks N500 million in damages for the infringement of his rights to privacy, dignity, liberty, and freedom of movement.
Additionally, Saliu requests the court to unfreeze the account of Emperor City Integrated Limited, held at Globus Bank, which he is connected to, claiming the police’s action violates his fundamental rights. The court has yet to set a hearing date for the case.
Police, Rights
Businessman seeks N500m from Police over wanted declaration