Court slams Police with N100m damages for halting Osun LG election

By Obasola Olatunde 

A Federal High Court sitting in Osogbo on Monday awarded N100 million in damages against the Inspector General of Police, the Nigeria Police Force and the Police Service Commission, ruling that their actions to stop the February 22, 2025 local government election in Osun State were unlawful and without any legal backing.

Delivering judgment in suit FHC/OS/CS/41/2025, Justice A.A. Demi Ajayi held that the Police had “no law breached and no justification” for sealing the offices of the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC) and arresting its staff hours before the scheduled poll.

The court further noted that evidence before it showed the election was conducted in compliance with the Electoral Act 2022 and other enabling laws.

The suit, filed by OSSIEC and its Chairman, Barr. Hashim Abioye, sought declarations that the Police violated their fundamental rights and interfered with a court-ordered election. They described the clampdown as an affront to the judiciary and demanded N2 billion in aggravated damages.

The Police, in an affidavit by Inspector Ogunmokun Abiodun, admitted sealing the premises and arresting workers but insisted the action was a preventive measure based on “credible suspicion” of electoral violations. The Force also denied acting with political motives.

Justice Demi Ajayi rejected the Police defence, ruling that the arrests and sealing of the commission were unlawful and unconstitutional.

Reacting, OSSIEC Chairman Abioye hailed the judgment as a victory for democracy, saying it would be remembered as a landmark pushback against attempts to undermine grassroots elections in Osun State.