By Tope Kolawole
The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, has dismissed all the false allegations charges filed by the Nigeria Police against Professor Zainab Duke-Abiola, widow of late Chief M.K.O. Abiola.
Dismissing the charges in its entirety, Justice E. Okpe, ruled that the conduct of the police against Prof Abiola was inhuman, degrading and a clear violation of her constitutional and fundamental human rights.
The court also awarded a fine of
N100 million in damages against the Nigeria Police Force, (NPF), a former Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, and four other defendants.
Prof. Abiola had filed a lawsuit against the police following their continuous harassment and media trial regarding claims of assaulting a police orderly.
The defendants in the suit are the Nigeria Police Force, Inspector Teju Moses, the former Inspector General of Police, Alkali Baba Usman, FCT Commissioner of Police, Mr Ibrahim Umar and His Worship, Hon Elizabeth Wonni.
In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2370/2022 Prof Abiola told the court that her personality and image had been irredeemably battered by the defamation and assassination of her character which had diminished her status in the society.
According to her, the defamation caused her so much damage, trauma, ill health and reduced her standing and recognition in the global society bearing in mind the fact that she had attained international reputation.
She told the court that the publications in print, electronic and social media by the police against her person had lowered her estimation in the eyes of right thinking members of society.
“Contrary to the defamatory statement in the print and electronic media as well as online media, I never assaulted my former orderly neither did I instruct anyone else to do so.
“Such an incident never took place in my house as there are CCTV cameras all over the street surroundings to debunk the claim.
“ I have never asked the former orderly to carry out any domestic chores as sophisticated robot machines like Alexa are installed in the palace.
“I was never a suspect but a victim of a frame up by the defendants,’’ she said.
Meanwhile, the court while delivering judgement held that the action by the police was a calculated attempt to frame her up and political persecution executed through a grievous and unacceptable abuse of power.
“What occurred was a forceful abduction—a brazen violation of Professor Abiola’s dignity, liberty, and constitutional rights. She was seized without due process, humiliated, and unlawfully detained.
“This case now stands as a stark national warning of how citizens’ rights can be trampled upon by those entrusted with enforcing the law”, the court ruled.
Justice Okpe further dismissed all the charges against her and ordered the police to tender a public apology in two national daily newspapers.
The judge also issued a perpetual injunction restraining the police from further harassment, intimidation of whatever form against the late Abiola’s widow.
It could be recalled that Honourable Justice Modupe Osho-Adebiyi also ruled that her abduction and detention without arraignment were unlawful and unconstitutional, and that the manner of her seizure violated her right to human dignity, ordering damages and public apologies.
She held that the police failed to prove any case whatsoever against her adding that they completely relied on unsubstantiated claims.
Professor Zainab Duke-Abiola is a Distinguished Alumnus of NIPSS, she is a holder of several Doctorate degrees in various fields.
She is an internationally recognised expert in Peace studies and Conflict Resolution. Those who know her describe her as soft spoken and a lady of impeccable good manners and gentility.
She is also the widow of the democratic icon and winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola (MKO Abiola) having married him in the highest recognised legal standing both nationally and intercontinentally, solemnized under the historic 1837 European Matrimonial Act, thereby placing her status, dignity, and legitimacy wholly unassailable.
