A Uinted Kingdom-based philanthropist, Chief (Mrs) Dorcas Adeyinka has sued the Nigerian police over alleged abuse of her fundamental human rights.Travel guides
The application is contained in an originating summon dated May 26, 2025, filed on her behalf by prominent Lagos-based lawyer, Yakubu Eleto Esq.
The matter is being heard by Justice Lewis Allagoa of the Federal High Court, Lagos State.
According to the court documents, ACP Muyiwa Adejobi (the Force Public Relations Officer) is the 1st Respondent in the matter, Tope Saint Williams Blackamoor is the 2nd Respondent, CP National Police Force Cyber Center is the 3rd Respondent, the 4th Respondent is the Nigerian Police Force, while the Inspector-General of Police is the 5th Respondent.Travel guides
The prayers of the counsels include a declaration that the “unlawful arrest, threats of arrest, detention between July 29 and August 18, 2024, threats, intimidation, harassment and coordinated media attack against the Applicant by the 1st Respondent in collision with private individuals constitute a gross violation of the Applicant’s fundamental human rights to dignity of the human person, personal liberty, privacy, freedom of movement, and fair hearing as guaranteed under Sections 34, 35, 36, 37 and 39 and 41 of the Nigerian Constitution (as amended) and Articles 5, 6, 12 and 19 of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights.”Travel guides
Adeyinka, owner of Dorcas Adeyinka Empowerment Foundation, is also seeking a declaration that the circulation of a “wanted person” “notice dated the 12th day of May, 2024 concerning the Applicant by the 1st Respondent without due process and without any valid court order or police invitation, amounts to a violation of the Applicant’s fundamental rights to dignity of human person.”
The counsels also want a declaration that the freezing or blocking of the Applicant’s personal and organisational bank accounts by the 3rd Respondent without a valid court order is unlawful, illegal and a breach of the Applicant’s right to own property and right to fair hearing.
“A declaration that the institution of criminal charges proceedings against the Applicant in Charge No. A/01/2023-Commisioner of Police v Dorcas Adeyinka and 2 others-before the Chief Magistrate Court, Yaba, Lagos State by the 4th and 5th Respondents at the behest of the 1st Respondent, was actuated by malice and commenced without reasonable cause, and is therefore illegal, unlawful, and a violation of the Applicant’s fundamental rights under Section 36 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).
“An order directing the Respondents jointly and severally to immediately and unconditionally unfreeze or unblock all the Applicant’s bank accounts and to desist from further interfering with the Applicant’s financial operations without lawful justification.
“An Order directing the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 5th Respondents to immediately remove the name of the Applicant from their wanted persons list as it is unlawful, unconstitutional and a gross violations of the fundamental rights of the Applicant,” the summon read.
The counsels also requested an order of perpetual injunction restraining he Respondents, their agents, privies or any other person acting on their behalf from further harassing, intimidating, arresting, detaining, threatening, inviting, investigating, charging, seizing or taking any untoward action against the Applicant on any fact connected with or related to the facts of the case.
They also demanded an order mandating the Respondents to issue a public apology to the Applicant through the same platforms used in publicizing “the defamatory content.”
The court was also urged to compel the 1st Respondent to pay the sum of N5,000,000,000.00 (Five Billion Naira) as general and exemplary damages “ for the threat to life and rights, harassment, inconvenience and the invasion and sieging of the Applicant’s office without cause or any order of the court.
The counsels also sought an order compelling the 2nd Respondent to pay the sum of N5,000,000.00 (Five Million Naira) as general and exemplary damages “for the threat to life and rights, harassment, inconvenience and the invasion and sieging of the Applicant’s office without cause of any order of the court.”
They demanded an order “compelling the 3rd to 5th Respondents to pay the sum of N5,000.00 (Five Thousand Naira) jointly and severally as general and exemplary damages for the threat to life and rights, harassment, inconvenience and the invasion and sieging of the Applicant’s office without cause or any order of the court.”
Newsmen had a week ago reported that the Centre for Human and Socio-economic Rights (CHSR), called on the Nigeria Police Force to immediately remove Mrs. Dorcas Adeyinka from its wanted list, following her exoneration in a murder allegation.
At a press briefing held in Lagos State, CHSR had said it was deeply concerned that despite a conclusive autopsy report absolving Mrs. Adeyinka of any wrongdoing, her name remains on the police wanted list.
The Centre had described the continued listing as a gross violation of her fundamental human rights and an affront to justice.
