An estate developer, Musa Saliu who has been declared wanted by the police has filed a case of N500 million damages against the Inspector-General (I-G) of Police and others at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory over allegations of violation of his fundamental human rights., pursuant to Sections 34, 35, 41 and 46 of the Nigerian Constitution; Articles 5 and 6 of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights Cap 10 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004. Joined in the suit, which was meticulously prepared and filed by Saliu’s lawyer, Femi Motojesi include the DIG, Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department, Funmilola Florence Olorunfemi as 2nd to 3rd defendants respectively.
Saliu alleges that the police falsely declared him a wanted person in a land dispute in their Special Police Gazette Bulletin. He, therefore, prayed the court to declare the publication of his picture and name in the bulletin as a wanted person with Ref No: CB: 3510/LX/FHQ/SEB/ABJ/T.7/Vo. 1/20 amounted to the violation of his fundamental rights. He submitted that the police lacked such powers “to engage in the act of debt recovery for the 3rd defendant (Olorunfemi) who is a subscriber to the applicant’s (Saliu’s) estate under construction.”
He therefore prayed the court to order the police to unfreeze the account number: 1000129689 with Globus Bank belonging to Emperor City Integrated Limited where he is the alter ego and signatory. The freezing of this account, a direct result of the police’s actions, has severely impacted the operations of his business, leading to financial losses and potential bankruptcy.
Saliu, who is also a politician and former New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) governorship candidate in Kogi in 2023 poll, is demanding the sum of N500 million in damages for the violation of his constitutionally guaranteed rights to privacy and dignity of the human person, personal liberty, and freedom of movement when the police declared him wanted, citing the severe emotional distress and reputational damage caused by the false accusations.
Saliu, in the suit marked: FCT/ CV/2839/24, asks the court to order the police to issue an apology published in the Special Police Gazette Bulletin and two national dailies. The suit number is a unique identifier for this particular case, which is important for tracking its progress and referencing it in legal discussions.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a certified true copy of the suit, dated June 14, was made available to newsmen on Sunday in Abuja. According to the estate developer, the dispute arose after Olorunfemi paid N25 million to subscribe to one of his houses being built but work halted after the FCT Department of Development Control demolished the estate. This incident, coupled with the police’s false accusations, has not only caused significant financial loss but also tarnished his reputation as a politician and businessman.
He said Olorunfemi invited the police to recover her money even after he had notified all the estate subscribers that he was trying to resolve the issue and return to site. He is contending that the relationship between him and Olorunfemi is civil and has no criminal connotation to warrant the police delving into it.
Saliu submitted that the police action of inviting him for questioning, freezing his account, and publishing his picture with details as a wanted person in the Police Gazette Bulletin were not only unwarranted but also unlawful, as they were done without proper investigation or evidence of his involvement in any criminal activity.
The matter is yet to be assigned to a judge.
