Ex-Osun LGA Boss Sues IG, Ex-Force Spokesman

Former caretaker chairman of Irewole local government area of Osun State, Babajide Jooda, has slammed a N500 million suit against the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, and former Force public relations officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, over his declaration as wanted based on what he described as a forged and fake court order.

Jooda, in a fundamental human rights suit filed before the Federal High Court, Abuja, alleged that the police unlawfully declared him wanted in February 2026 for terrorism, illegal possession of firearms and culpable homicide after relying on a purported arrest warrant which, according to him, was forged.

The former council boss also challenged the newspaper advertorials signed by Hundeyin and published in major national newspapers declaring him wanted, insisting that the court order purportedly authorising the publications was not genuine and could not legally support the police action.

Jooda was arrested alongside some suspects over the alleged murder of the reinstated chairman of Irewole local government area, Mr Remi Abass, and was subsequently released by the police.

He said the development became more troubling because the police had, on three separate occasions, filed criminal charges against him which were later withdrawn.

According to him, his name was eventually struck out of the charges and he was released from custody, while the criminal case previously filed against him before a Magistrate Court in Osun State was also abandoned by the police prosecutors.

In the case filed at an Osun Magistrate Court with charge number MOS/150/2025, dated March 11, 2025, Jooda was listed as the first defendant alongside Yekini Wahab, 26; Wakili Yakubu, 23; Ganiyu Habeeb, 32; Owoade Nureni, 62; and Abayomi Olanrewaju, 38.

However, in another criminal case instituted before the Federal High Court, Abuja, with charge number FHC/ABJ/CR/170/2025, dated October 15, 2025, and filed by prosecutor A.S. Oyeyemi on behalf of the Inspector-General of Police, Jooda’s name was no longer listed among the defendants.

The defendants in that case were Abubakar Kabiru, aka Jeje; Tajudeen Opeyemi; Akeem Agbomojo; and Akintoye Olayemi.

According to a Certified True Copy of the proceedings of October 15, 2025, Oyeyemi told the court: “We have a charge dated 8th May, 2025. We have an amended charge dated 21st of May, 2025 and another amended charge filed 22nd May, 2025 and the last amended charge is filed 21st July, 2025. We urge the court to strike out the above processes and replace same with the amended charge filed 14th October, 2025.”

The court granted the application after defence counsel, Sunday Adebayo, raised no objection.

Jooda said he was shocked that, after the withdrawal of the earlier charges and his absence from the subsequent Federal High Court charge, the police authorities later declared him wanted over terrorism, illegal possession of firearms and culpable homicide.

He alleged that the declaration was politically motivated and amounted to an abuse of his fundamental rights, saying the police action subjected him to oppression, embarrassment, intimidation and public humiliation.

In the fundamental rights suit, Jooda listed the Attorney-General of the Federation, the Police Service Commission, the Commissioner of Police, Osun State Command, the Commissioner of Police, Intelligence Response Team, Abuja, former Chief Magistrate, Karu, Ahmed Ndajiwo, the Registrar, Chief Magistrate Court, Karu, Muktar Yusuf, Abass Oladipupo and 11 police officers as respondents.

Jooda is claiming N250 million in general damages and another N250 million in exemplary damages, bringing his total claim to N500 million over what he described as the oppression, embarrassment, intimidation and dehumanisation he allegedly suffered as a result of the police action.

Jooda had earlier petitioned the Minister of Police Affairs over the wanted advertorials, accusing the police authorities of maligning his character through the publications. In the petition written by his lawyer, Chiemeka Okereke, he demanded a public apology to be published within seven days and N50 million in compensation.

The petition stated: “It is our brief that sometimes on 26th February, 2025, you went to one Chief Magistrate in FCT and obtained a warrant of arrest for an offence allegedly committed in Ikire township, osun State, to arrest our client. The said warrant of arrest turned out to be forged and fake. Furthermore, you proceeded with the forged/fake document and published in your Special Police Gazette Bulletin.”

Jooda’s allegations are contained in the court processes filed before the Federal High Court, while the defendants are yet to respond to the claims as the matter awaits determination by the court.

Barrister Idoko Ochuocho, who spoke with our correspondent on the legal implications of the case, said the suit had placed the legality of the disputed arrest warrant, the circumstances surrounding Jooda’s arrest and subsequent release, the withdrawal of the earlier criminal charges and his eventual declaration as wanted before the court for judicial determination.

Ochuocho added that until the court rules on the matter, the allegations of forgery, unlawful conduct, political motivation and violation of fundamental rights remain claims by the former council chairman and have not been established as facts by the court.