Prof. Zainab Abiola, the late Chief MKO Abiola’s widow, has criticized the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and Inspector-General of Police Usman Baba.
With a lawsuit for N100 billion over claimed defamation, Zainab brought the NPF and the IGP before an Abuja Federal High Court.
The lawsuit was joined by Teju Moses, a former police orderly, and Ibrahim, the IGP’s son.
Zainab accuses the police of violating her basic human rights to life and dignity in the lawsuit with reference number FHA/ABJ/CS/2370/202 that was filed by her attorney Tawo Tawo (SAN).
In her declaration of claim, the plaintiff claimed that one Ibrahim Alkali, the adopted son of the IGP, had set her up on September 20, 2022, and that she had injured her former orderly, Inspector Moses, which she claimed had damaged her name and character.
She claimed, He (Ibrahim Alkali) collaborated with my former orderly to fabricate that I injured her bodily. We have CCTV cameras all throughout the place that will show what occurred when the proceedings started.
In addition, Zainab claimed that since she had been humiliated, taken to court, and condemned by the court of public opinion, her personality and reputation had been irreparably damaged by character assassination and defamation, which had lowered her status in society.
Despite having developed a global reputation, she said that the incident had cost her so much damage, trauma, and ill-health, and has lowered my position and recognition in a global culture.”
Zainab requested a declaration from the court in the summons that the police’s actions against her and the other plaintiffs have given her a string of nightmares and that she is constantly afraid for her life.
The plaintiff consequently requested that the court compel the defendants to give her N100 billion as compensation for the defamation, shame, ridicule, harassment, trauma, humiliation, and public embarrassment that she suffered at the hands of the police. The 28th of February has been set aside for the lawsuit’s hearing.
