Courtroom Drama and Legal Maneuvers: Inside a Controversial Police Case That Refused to Stay Dismissed
Today unfolded as a deeply revealing and troubling episode within Nigeria’s judicial and law enforcement landscape, raising serious questions about due process, institutional influence, and the limits of legal maneuvering.
Following an earlier ruling by Justice Musa Liman, which struck out a cybercrime case filed against me, I returned to court expecting closure. The case had originally been instituted under the authority of former Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, whose appointment has since been nullified.
Ordinarily, a court’s decision to strike out a case signals a definitive halt to proceedings—at least until a fresh and properly grounded action is filed. However, what followed was anything but routine.
Rather than accept the ruling, Egbetokun, through close associates within the Nigeria Police Force, appeared to initiate a new legal strategy aimed at reviving the dismissed case. Key figures involved in this process reportedly included Bukola Kuti and Emmanuel Ade Aina, the latter serving as Director of Legal Services within the Police Legal Directorate.
An ex parte motion—filed without notifying the opposing party—was submitted to relist the same case for a fresh hearing. Legal analysts often note that while ex parte applications are permissible under Nigerian law in urgent situations, their use in circumstances involving previously dismissed cases can raise concerns about fairness and transparency.
Even more surprising was the continued influence attributed to Egbetokun within police structures, despite his removal from office. Observers argue that such developments highlight ongoing concerns about institutional continuity and accountability within the Nigeria Police Force.
In response, my legal team, led by Barrister Marshal D. F. Abubakar and Barrister Rosemary Hamza of chambers associated with Deji Adeyanju, immediately applied for the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the ruling and the final court order striking out the case. However, efforts to obtain these documents were stalled by court officials, who cited a public holiday as justification for the delay.
Our priority extended beyond documentation. Since January 2025, my international passport and key land documents belonging to my surety had been held by the court as part of bail conditions imposed by Justice Liman. Despite repeated applications for their release, the court declined, at one point suggesting that additional affidavits from my wife and family members would be required.
Meanwhile, the case itself had experienced multiple adjournments over several months, frequently attributed to the judge’s official engagements, including conferences. In light of recent developments, these delays now appear increasingly significant.
Last week marked a turning point when AIG Aina filed an unusual ex parte motion seeking to relist the already struck-out case. Today, court officials informed us that Justice Liman would withhold formal signing of the ruling and order until the police appeared in court—not only to move their relisting motion but also to withdraw it in open court.
In a further twist, the police subsequently filed yet another ex parte application—this time to withdraw their own motion to relist the case.
As proceedings were expected to begin, we were abruptly informed that the matter was not listed for hearing. Nonetheless, we maintained that any application to relist the case should not interfere with our right to obtain the official ruling and order.
During this period of uncertainty, I addressed journalists at the court premises, speaking on broader national issues. The interaction took an unexpected turn when a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Musbau, interrupted and attempted to disperse both myself and members of the press from the courtroom vicinity.
Shortly afterward, we departed for a scheduled engagement with the Independent National Electoral Commission in the Federal Capital Territory. It was during this time that my legal team relayed a remarkable development.
Justice Liman had proceeded to relist the matter, allowed a police counsel to move their application, and ultimately issued an ex parte order permitting the withdrawal of the case—effectively bringing the entire matter to a close.
Following this final action, my international passport was released to my legal representatives and returned to me, ending what had been a prolonged and, in my view, unjustified seizure.
This sequence of events underscores broader concerns about the integrity of legal processes, the use of procedural tools such as ex parte motions, and the balance of power between citizens and law enforcement institutions. As Nigeria continues to strengthen its democratic and judicial frameworks, cases like this serve as critical reminders of the need for transparency, accountability, and strict adherence to the rule of law.
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