A former member of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Ayodeji Arowele, has instituted a fundamental rights enforcement suit against the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) and the Nigeria Police Force, seeking N50 million in damages over his alleged arrest on the eve of the All Progressives Congress (APC) House of Representatives primary election.
Arowele, a former two-term lawmaker and aspirant in the APC primary for the Owo/Ose Federal Constituency, alleged that he was arrested on May 16, 2026, just hours before the commencement of the party’s primary election.
In the suit, filed through his counsel, Kunle Ijalana, the claimant argued that the arrest violated his fundamental rights as guaranteed under Sections 36, 42 and 46 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
The suit, brought pursuant to the Fundamental Rights Enforcement Procedure Rules, named the Inspector-General of Police, the Nigeria Police Force, ASP Ebito Ephraim, CSP Hilary Mazi and Yusuf Sanya Isiaka as respondents.
Arowele is asking the court to declare that the alleged invasion of his hotel room by police officers on the day of the primary election was unlawful and constituted a violation of his rights to privacy, personal liberty and human dignity.
According to court documents made available to journalists on Tuesday, the former lawmaker contended that police officers, acting under the guise of investigating an assault allegation, unlawfully entered his hotel room and arrested him.
He urged the court to declare that the operation amounted to an abuse of power and an infringement on his constitutional rights.
The claimant further alleged that despite the transfer of the case file to the Area Commander in Owo for investigation, he continued to face threats of arrest from police officers over the same matter.
He argued that any further invitation, arrest or threat of arrest concerning the allegation would amount to double jeopardy and a breach of his right to personal liberty.
In addition to seeking monetary compensation, Arowele is requesting a perpetual injunction restraining the police officers involved from further arresting, threatening or inviting him for questioning in connection with the case.
The former lawmaker also submitted a petition to the Inspector-General of Police, accusing officers attached to the IGP Response Team of misconduct during the operation.
According to the petition, several police formations had previously invited or arrested him over the same allegation.
The petition alleged that about 30 police officers, led by CSP Hilary Mazi and ASP Ebito Ephraim, stormed a hotel in Owo without a warrant of arrest and took him into custody.
Arowele claimed that although he did not resist arrest and merely requested to see a warrant, he was allegedly rough-handled during the operation.
He further alleged that his security aides, who are operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), were assaulted during the incident, with one officer reportedly losing a tooth.
The petition stated that Arowele was later granted bail at the office of the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 17, Akure, after spending about six hours in custody and providing a statement.
He was subsequently directed to report to police authorities in Abuja after the APC primary election.
The former lawmaker maintained that his arrest coincided with the party’s primary election in which he was a contestant for the Owo/Ose Federal Constituency seat ahead of the 2027 general elections.
As of the time of filing this report, the police authorities had not publicly responded to the allegations contained in the suit and petition.
