Former Chairman of Irewole Local Government, Osun State, Babajide Jooda, has filed N500million suit against the Inspector-General of Police (IG), Tunji Disu, a former Force Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin and five others for allegedly declaring him wanted based on a forged court order.
Jooda, in the fundamental rights enforcement suit, marked: FHC/ABJ/CV/511/2026, filed at the Federal High Court, Abuja, also listed as respondents, Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Police Service Commission (PSC), Commissioner of Police, Osun State Command, 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.
It is his contention that the arrest warrant and the advertorials allegedly signed by Hundeyin and published in major national newspapers, declaring him wanted in February 2026 for terrorism, illegal possession of firearms and culpable homicide, were illegal.
Jooda, who was arrested by the police alongside some suspects over the alleged murder of reinstated chairman of Irewole Local Government Area, Remi Abass, and later released, claimed that the court order which purportedly authorised the publications was forged.
He stated, in a supporting affidavit, that the police, on three occasions, filed separate criminal charges against him, which were subsequently withdrawn.
Jooda further stated that his names were struck out from the charges, following which he was released from custody, adding that the criminal charges previously filed against him at a Magistrate’s Court in Osun State were equally abandoned by the police’s prosecutors.
The applicant, who claimed that the actions of the police were politically motivated, said he was shocked to learn that the police declared him wanted after withdrawing the multiple charges against him.
Jooda, who said he was oppressed, embarrassed, intimidated and dehumanised by the police, is praying the court for among other reliefs, general damages of N250million in addition to exemplary damage of N250million.
Before filing the suit, Jooda had petitioned the Minister of Police Affairs about the advertorials, accusing the police authorities of maligning his character with the defamatory publications.
In the petition written by his lawyer, Chiemeka Okereke, Jooda demanded a public apology to be published within seven days and N50million compensation.
Part of the petition reads: ”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.”