MKO Abiola’s sons sue police N100m over arrest, detention

Etim Ekpimah

Two children of the late MKO Abiola, Kassim Abiola and Aliyu Abiola, have filed a N100m fundamental human rights enforcement suit against the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, Hakeem Odumosu in the High Court of Lagos State in the Ikeja Judicial Division, over their unlawful arrest and detention by the operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad.

It could be recalled that the suspected robbers gained entry into the premises through Toyin Street Crescent residence of Abiola via a canal and jumped into the compound unmindful of the high perimeter fencing before raiding the late politician mansion of millions of naira worth of property.

The suit, which were filed on their behalf by Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), Kassim and Aliyu, alleged that the two sons were arrested on the instigation of their stepmother, Mrs Adebisi Abiola, who was said to have suspected them of having a hand in the robbery attack on MKO Abiola’s house.

The affidavit which was also filed to buttress the suit, a litigation clerk in Ozekhome’s law firm, Ubong Ikon, said Kassim and Aliyu were picked up at their father’s house, 42-46 MKO Abiola Crescent, Off Toyin Street, Ikeja, around 11.45am on September 2 by fully armed SARS operatives, who forced their way into their apartments without any warrant of arrest.

“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.”