The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Badagry Branch, Lagos State, has petitioned the authorities over what it described as a shocking and unlawful arrest, assault, and detention of a serving magistrate and a legal practitioner by police officers attached to Area C Command, Surulere, Lagos State.
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In the petition, the NBA Human Rights Committee accused officers of the Anti-Kidnapping Task Force of gross abuse of power, violation of fundamental human rights, and conduct capable of undermining Nigeria’s justice system.
The petition, titled “Urgent Petition On The Gross Violation Of Fundamental Rights, Assault, Unlawful Arrest, Degrading Treatment, False Imprisonment, And Attempted Extortion,” stems from an incident that occurred on April 4, 2026, at Idi-Araba area of Lagos.
According to the NBA, Magistrate Jimoh Fadahunsi Adefioye and lawyer Abdulkareem Ameen Alao were on a routine visit to a relative when they were suddenly accosted by armed police officers led by one Supol Samson.
Without prior warning or identification, the officers allegedly descended on the two men “in a commando-like and Gestapo manner,” physically assaulting and handcuffing them together in public.
“They were treated like hardened criminals,” the petition noted, adding that the officers refused to disclose the reason for the arrest despite repeated demands.
The victims were subsequently bundled into a police vehicle and taken to the Anti-Kidnapping Task Force office at Area C Command, where the situation reportedly worsened.
At the facility, the NBA said the magistrate and the lawyer were subjected to intimidation, verbal abuse, and degrading treatment, including being forced to sit on the bare floor.
The committee further alleged that the officers engaged in coercive interrogation and created conditions suggestive of an attempt to extort money from the victims.
“It was only after prolonged detention and internal checks that the officers realised they had arrested a serving magistrate and a legal practitioner,” the petition stated.
Following the discovery, the officers reportedly apologised and claimed the arrest was based on an unverified allegation that the victims had defrauded an unnamed complainant of N45 million a claim the NBA described as baseless and reckless.
The officers reportedly blamed the incident on “mistaken identity,” an explanation the NBA dismissed as legally untenable and indicative of gross negligence.
The association warned that the incident represents a dangerous pattern of impunity within the Nigeria Police Force, stressing that such actions erode public confidence in law enforcement.
Citing multiple constitutional breaches, the NBA accused the officers of violating the victims’ right to personal liberty, subjecting them to inhuman and degrading treatment, and engaging in false imprisonment.
It also described the incident as an institutional embarrassment to both the judiciary and the legal profession.
“The humiliation of a judicial officer is not merely personal but an affront to the entire justice system,” the petition emphasised.
As part of its demands, the NBA called for the immediate identification, arrest, and investigation of all officers involved, including Supol Samson, and the suspension of the Area Commander, SCP Simar Sunday, pending the outcome of a transparent probe.
The association also demanded criminal prosecution and disciplinary action against the officers, compensation for the victims, and a public apology.
Additionally, it urged authorities to implement reforms within police special units, particularly the Anti-Kidnapping Task Force, to ensure compliance with human rights standards and lawful arrest procedures.
The petition was copied to key authorities, including the NBA National President, the Chief Judge of Lagos State, the Attorney-General of Lagos State, and the National Human Rights Commission.
The development comes months after growing concerns over alleged misconduct by security agencies, raising fresh questions about accountability and adherence to the rule of law within Nigeria’s policing system.
The NBA warned that failure to act decisively would leave it with no option but to pursue legal action and sustained public advocacy.
“This incident must not be swept under the carpet,” the association said. “Justice must not only be done but must be seen to be done.”
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