A former Deputy Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Ayodeji Arowele, has instituted a fundamental rights enforcement suit against the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), senior police officers and the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) over circumstances surrounding his arrest ahead of the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election for Owo/Ose Federal Constituency.
The suit was filed before the Federal High Court through his counsel, Kunle Ijalana.
Also joined as defendants in the matter are the Nigeria Police Force, ASP Ebito Ephraim, CSP Hilary Mazi and Yusuf Sanya Isiaka.
The legal action comes amid growing political tension in Ondo State following recent concerns raised by the state government regarding the activities of some police personnel attached to the Force Intelligence Department operating in parts of the state.
Arowele, a two-term member of the Ondo State House of Assembly and aspirant in the APC primary election, is challenging the legality of his arrest on May 16, 2026.
According to him, the operation was deliberately timed to stop him from participating in the party’s primary election ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In the suit filed under the Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules, the former lawmaker asked the court to declare that the alleged invasion of his hotel room in Owo violated his constitutional rights to privacy, personal liberty and human dignity.
He further requested the court to declare that the action, which he alleged was carried out on the directive of the Inspector-General of Police and at the instance of one of the defendants, amounted to abuse of power and was unconstitutional.
Arowele is also seeking an order restraining the police from further inviting, threatening or arresting him over the same matter.
Additionally, he requested an award of ₦50 million as general damages for the alleged infringement of his fundamental rights.
In a petition addressed to the Inspector-General of Police, the former deputy speaker alleged that approximately 30 police officers led by CSP Hilary Mazi and ASP Ebito Ephraim stormed his hotel accommodation in Owo in what he described as a “gestapo-style operation.”
According to him, no arrest warrant was presented before he was taken into custody.
He further alleged that he was assaulted after requesting to see the warrant and claimed that his security aides attached from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) were also attacked during the operation.
One of the NSCDC personnel was reportedly injured and lost a tooth in the process.
According to the petition, Arowele was an active aspirant in the APC primary election for Owo/Ose Federal Constituency scheduled to hold on the same day he was arrested.
He further stated that on June 10, he was invited to the office of the Area Commander in Owo and informed that the Inspector-General had directed an investigation into a petition allegedly submitted against him by Yusuf Sanya Isiaka.
The former lawmaker said he spent approximately six hours in custody at the office of the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 17, Akure, before he was granted bail.
He added that he was instructed to report to the Force Headquarters in Abuja after the primary election.
However, Arowele alleged that despite his release and subsequent transfer of the matter to the Area Commander’s office in Owo, investigating officers have continued to summon him to Abuja and issue threats of fresh arrest.
The Federal High Court is expected to announce a date for hearing of the application.
