Former Ondo Lawmaker Sues Police Over Alleged Illegal Arrest
A former member of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Ayodeji Arowell, has filed a lawsuit against the Inspector-General of Police and the Nigeria Police Force, alleging illegal arrest just prior to the recent All Progressives Congress primaries.
Arowell, who aspired to represent the Owo/Ose Federal Constituency, claims he was apprehended just hours before the primaries on May 16, 2026. He argues that this arrest constituted a violation of his fundamental human rights as outlined in Articles 36, 42, and 46 of the amended 1999 Constitution.
According to court documents obtained by our correspondent, Arowell is seeking N50 million in damages for what he describes as an unlawful detainment.
Named in the suit, filed under Order 11 (1), (2), (3), and (5) of the Federal High Court Rules, are the Inspector-General of Police, the Nigeria Police Force, ASP Ebit Ephraim, CSP Hilary Mazi, and Mr. Yusuf Sanya Isiaka.
Arowell is asking the court to rule that the actions taken by the Nigerian Police Force on May 16, 2026, which he describes as an invasion of his hotel room, were unlawful. He contends that it violated his rights to privacy, personal liberty, and human dignity.
Furthermore, he seeks a declaration that the police’s intrusion into his hotel room, allegedly executed under the guise of an investigation, was unconstitutional, an abuse of power, and a violation of his civil liberties.
In his plea, Arowell also requests the court to recognize the ongoing threats of arrest against him as extreme and unconstitutional, asserting that the case file has been handed over to the Nigeria Police Owo Area Command Office for investigation, where the alleged incident took place. He seeks an injunction against further police harassment or detainment related to this matter, citing the principles of double jeopardy and abuse of power.
In addition to his lawsuit, Arowell has raised concerns with the Inspector-General of Police regarding the conduct of officers involved in the May 16 incident. He claims he has faced multiple arrests by different police units in connection with the same case.
According to a petition seen on Tuesday, approximately 30 police officers, led by CSP Maxi Hilary and ASP Ephraim, reportedly entered Arowell’s hotel room in Owo without an arrest warrant and in a manner reminiscent of Gestapo tactics. The document alleges that officers treated him roughly, despite his compliance in requesting a warrant for his arrest, and even claims that personnel from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps were also victimized, leading to serious injuries.
Following his arrest, Arowell was released on bail roughly six hours later at the office of the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 17, in Akure, with instructions to report to his Abuja office after the primaries. He emphasizes that he was a candidate competing in the Owo/Ose Federal Constituency elections during the time of his detainment.
Subsequently, on June 10, 2026, Arowell was summoned to the Area Commander’s Office, where he was informed that an investigation had been instigated by the Office of the Inspector General of Police following a complaint lodged by Yusuf Sanya Isiaka.
