Former Ondo State House of Assembly member Ayodeji Arowele files a lawsuit against the Inspector-General of Police and the Nigeria Police Force, challenging an arrest he says occurs hours before an APC House of Representatives primary. Arowele, an APC aspirant for the Owo/Ose Federal Constituency, says he is arrested on 16 May 2026, shortly before the primary begins, and that the action violates rights guaranteed under Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution.
In the suit, he seeks ₦50 million in damages and a court declaration that the police entry into his hotel room is unconstitutional. According to the allegations in the court papers, about 30 officers storm his hotel in Owo without a warrant, assault him and his security aides, and take him away. He says he is later released on bail after about six hours at the Zone 17 Police Command in Akure, with an instruction to report to Abuja after the primary.
The lawsuit also requests an order restraining further arrest or threats, and he argues that repeated invitations over the same allegations amount to abuse of power and double jeopardy. The respondents named include specific police officers in addition to the IGP.
