Lawyer sues police over alleged unlawful invitation
A senior lawyer, Chief Aigbonosimuan Gabriel Giwa-Amu, has asked the Federal High Court in Lagos to restrain the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) and certain police officers from compelling him to
A senior lawyer, Chief Aigbonosimuan Gabriel Giwa-Amu, has asked the Federal High Court in Lagos to restrain the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) and certain police officers from compelling him to appear in Abuja for interrogation over a land matter in Lagos.
In a fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by his counsel, Monday J. Uleyo, Giwa-Amu is challenging what he described as an unlawful police invitation.
Listed as first to fifth defendants are: the Nigeria Police Force; the Inspector-General of Police; the Deputy Inspector-General of Police; CP Patrick Daaor, Commissioner of Police (Admin); and Detective Nzota, all of the Force Intelligence Department (FID), Force Headquarters, Area 11, Garki, Abuja.
The applicant, who is also a human rights activist, is seeking the court’s determination of whether the police authorities lawfully issued a directive/standing order on February 4, 2025, prohibiting the transfer of police investigations from states to the Federal Capital Territory without the authority of the IGP.
He is also asking the court to determine whether the issuance and service on him of an “Investigation Activities – Police Invitation” with Ref No. CR: 3000/FID/ABJ/TF/VOL.66/217 dated February 10, 2026, by the 3rd, 4th and 5th defendants contravenes the said directive.
If the questions are answered in his favour, the plaintiff is seeking several reliefs, including a declaration that the issuance and service of the police invitation contravenes the IGP’s directive of February 4, 2025, and is therefore null and void.
He also seeks a declaration that all actions and proceedings arising from the said invitation are ultra vires the Police Act and the Constitution and are therefore a nullity.
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An order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants from proceeding with any investigation pursuant to the said invitation except in accordance with the Police Act and the Constitution.
Giwa-Amu is praying for an order prohibiting the defendants from enforcing any directives or actions arising from the invitation outside the provisions of the law.
In his supporting affidavit, he stated that he resides in Lagos State and has been a law-abiding citizen.
He deposed that on February 11, 2026, he received a call from the 5th defendant informing him of a police invitation.
According to him, he was told the invitation would be served via WhatsApp, which was subsequently done.
Upon receiving the invitation, he said he protested the Abuja venue on four grounds: the existence of a binding directive issued by the IGP on February 4, 2025, prohibiting the transfer of investigations to Abuja without express approval; his ill-health; security concerns associated with long-distance travel; and the financial burden of such a trip.
He stated that despite forwarding a copy of the directive to the officer, he was informed that his attendance was mandatory.
The applicant said he approached the court for an interpretation of the directive, the Police Act and the Constitution, and to ensure compliance with the law.
The defendants are expected to file their responses, having been served with the court processes.
No date has yet been fixed for the hearing.
