MKO Abiola’s Sons Sue Police After Spending 9 Days In Detention Over Robbery Allegation

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MKO Abiola’s Sons Sue Police After Spending 9 Days In Detention Over Robbery Allegation

The house of the Late Moshood Kashimawo Abiola in Ikeja, Lagos was invaded by gun-wielding armed robbers on Wednesday, September 2, 2020.

Two Children Of The Late MKO Abiola, Kassim And Aliyu Have Reportedly Sued The Nigerian Police Force After Spending Nine Days In The Detention Facility Of The Police Special Anti-Robbery Squad In Lagos Over A Robbery Allegation.

Kassim and Aliyu were said to have been arrested in their father’s house at 42–46 MKO Abiola Crescent, Off Toyin Street, Ikeja on Wednesday, September 2, 2020, following a robbery attack in the late politician’s house in the early hours of the same day.

Following the robbery attack, spokesman of the Lagos police command had said that some suspects were arrested in connection with the incident.

However, the children, who are reportedly on the verge of leaving Nigeria for the United States to further their education have sued Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu demanding N100m in damages.

According to ThePunch, Kassim and Aliyu in the suit filed on their behalf by Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), before the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja, alleged that their arrest and detention were masterminded by their stepmother, Mrs Adebisi Abiola, who accused them of being involved in the robbery attack.

The affidavit reads,

“The applicants were tortured, totally humiliated, dehumanised and terrorised, with a crowd of people swarming the premises to witness the ugly scene in the home of MKO Abiola, a former presidential aspirant of the Social Democratic Party.

“The applicants were informed that their arrest was based on an alleged complaint by one Mrs Adebisi Abiola, their stepmother, to the effect that a robbery incident took place in their home; that suspected armed men invaded the residence and carted away valuables, including money.

“The applicants were forcibly dragged like common criminals, more in form of abduction than arrest and roughly driven to the Ikeja police station.

“They were promptly detained without any record, howsoever.

They were not given any opportunity to speak with anyone, let alone a lawyer.”

Ozekhome maintained that the arrest and detention of Kassim and Aliyu were a violation of their fundamental rights under sections 35, 37, 41, 44 and 46 of the 1999 Constitution.

He, therefore, prayed the court to order the police to pay the children a sum of N100m as exemplary damages and to tender a public apology to them.