Court Slams Kaduna Police, Awards ₦15m Damages To ADC, SDP, El-Rufai
The Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna has delivered judgment against the Kaduna State Commissioner of Police, declaring the attempt to ban political meetings by the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the Social Democratic Party (SDP) unconstitutional.
The case arose after an ADC political gathering attended by former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, and other party leaders was violently disrupted by thugs alleged to have been sponsored by the state government.
In response, the police had sought a court order to prohibit all political gatherings across the state.
Delivering judgment on Wednesday, 15th October 2025, Honourable Justice Murtala J. Zubairu struck out the police application for being “incompetent and an abuse of court process,” while granting all reliefs sought by the defendants.
The court declared the police action unconstitutional and awarded a total of ₦15 million in damages in favour of the ADC, SDP, and Mallam El-Rufai.
Justice Zubairu held that the police failed in their statutory duty by not investigating the complaints of violence lodged by the opposition parties.
He further described the actions of the police including the application for a blanket ban on political meetings as “oppressive, high-handed, and a clear pattern of abuse of power.”
The judgment also included a perpetual injunction restraining the Kaduna State Commissioner of Police, his officers, agents, or privies from further interfering with the lawful political activities of the parties without due process.
The court ordered the police to investigate the violent disruption of the ADC meeting held on August 30, 2025, and report to the Kaduna State Attorney-General within 60 days.
Sodiq Lawal is a passionate and dedicated journalist with a knack for uncovering captivating stories in the bustling metropolis of Osun State and Nigeria at large. He has a versatile reporting style, covering a wide range of topics, from politics , campus, and social issues to arts and culture, seeking impact in all facets of the society.
