Media appointees of the Osun State Government have approached the Federal High Court in Osogbo, seeking judicial protection against what they described as persistent harassment by the Nigeria Police Force.
The suit, filed on Friday, lists the Inspector General of Police and the Police Service Commission as respondents in an application for the enforcement of fundamental rights guaranteed under the Nigerian Constitution.
Those seeking relief include the Commissioner for Information, Kolapo Alimi, the Governor’s Spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, and other media aides serving in the state government.
Court documents obtained indicate that “the applicants are challenging alleged actions by police operatives which they say have interfered with the lawful performance of their official duties.”
According to the originating processes, “the officials claim they were subjected to intimidation, threats of arrest, and repeated warnings of possible detention without lawful justification.”
The applicants also alleged that operatives linked to the All Progressives Congress attempted to involve the police in actions aimed at suppressing state media officials.
They told the court that “recent arrests and alleged threats by some police officers formed part of a broader pattern, which necessitated urgent judicial intervention.”
The suit argued that the timing of the alleged actions, with the August 8 governorship election approaching, heightened concerns about the safety and rights of public office holders involved in information management.
In a sworn affidavit supporting the application, a Senior Special Assistant to the Governor, Hezekiah Oladele Olabamiji, “accused certain police officers of collaborating with unnamed politicians to intimidate state officials.
“The actions complained of amount to a violation of our constitutionally guaranteed rights and pose a threat to the discharge of our lawful duties.”
