Six princes from three royal families in Iwo, Osun State, have filed a N50 million fundamental rights suit against the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi.
The applicants are Prince Lekan Lamuye, Prince Ismaila Alade, Prince Mogaji Abese, Prince Adedoja Osunwo, Prince Fisayo Moloju and Prince Najeemdeen Adebayo. The suit was filed before the Federal High Court sitting in Osogbo.
Joined as 1st to 4th respondents are the Inspector General of Police, the Director of the National Cyber Crime Centre, Nigeria Police Force, Abuja, a police officer, Abraham Uzah, and the Police Service Commission. Oba Akanbi is listed as the 5th respondent.
The applicants, through their counsel, Soji Oyetayo, alleged that the monarch used the office of the 1st to 3rd respondents to intimidate and harass Prince Osunwo by arresting and detaining him.
According to them, “the Oluwo had written a petition against Osunwo, accusing him of defamation, cybercrime and infringement on his rights during a press conference organised by the three ruling houses in 2025.”
They said Osunwo was invited by the Nigeria Police Force, Abuja, following the petition and was detained for four days after honouring the invitation on August 13, 2025.
The princes contended that the detention, alleged harassment and inhumane treatment constituted a violation of his fundamental rights.
In the originating motion, the applicants are seeking a declaration that the harassment, humiliation, invitation, arrest and detention of the 4th applicant by the 1st to 3rd respondents at the office of the National Cyber Crime Centre in Abuja from August 13 to 16, 2025, over what they described as a malicious, frivolous and mischievous petition by the 5th respondent on a civil matter of alleged defamation, is null, void and unconstitutional and violates Chapter IV of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
They are also seeking “a declaration that the invitation letters issued by the 1st to 3rd respondents on June 16, 2026, inviting them to appear at the office of the 2nd respondent in Abuja, is null, void and unconstitutional.”
Other reliefs sought include “an order of perpetual injunction restraining the Oluwo from using the office of the 1st to 3rd respondents to further harass, humiliate, arrest, detain or curtail their freedom of movement.”
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They also “prayed the court to award general damages of N50 million being the loss suffered by the 4th applicant as a result of the inhuman treatment meted out to him while in the custody of the 1st to 3rd respondents at the instance of the 5th respondent.”
When the case came up on Tuesday, the court clerk told the court that there was no evidence of proof of service on all the respondents.
Following the development, counsel to the applicants asked for an adjournment.
Justice Sulaiman Amida subsequently adjourned the case till November 10 for hearing.
Olamilekan Adigun is a graduate of Mass Communication with years of experience in journalism embedded in uncovering human interest stories. He also prioritises accuracy and factual reportage of issues.
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