A Kaduna State High Court has ordered the Nigeria Police to pay ₦15 million in damages to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the Social Democratic Party (SDP) after ruling that the police unlawfully banned political gatherings in the state.
Justice Murtala Zubairu, who presided over the case, described the action of the state Commissioner of Police, Muhammad Rabiu, as unconstitutional and a gross abuse of power. The court also issued a permanent injunction restraining the police from interfering with the lawful political activities of the two parties, including rallies, meetings, and public assemblies, except in compliance with due process of law.
In his ruling, Justice Zubairu said the police overstepped their authority and violated the constitutional rights of the opposition parties to freedom of assembly and association as guaranteed under Section 40 of the Nigerian Constitution. He noted that the actions of the police were oppressive, politically motivated, and inconsistent with democratic principles.
The case originated from an incident on August 30, 2025, when a meeting of ADC members in Kaduna, attended by former Governor Nasir El-Rufai and other party leaders, was violently disrupted by suspected political thugs. Despite the attack, the police reportedly failed to investigate, choosing instead to impose a blanket ban on political gatherings across the state.
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Justice Zubairu awarded ₦5 million each to the ADC and SDP for what he described as arbitrary interference, reputational damage, and failure by the police to carry out proper investigations. An additional ₦5 million was also awarded as general damages for the unlawful suspension of subsequent political meetings and the abuse of legal process through an ex-parte injunction obtained without merit.
The court went further to nullify the ex-parte order issued on September 4, 2025, calling it a “breach of procedure and an unlawful attempt to silence legitimate political activities.”
Justice Zubairu condemned the blanket ban on political gatherings, describing it as “a clear case of selective enforcement and misuse of police powers.” He ordered the Kaduna State Police Command to reopen investigations into the August 30 attack and submit its findings to the state’s Attorney-General within 60 days.
The ruling is seen as a major victory for opposition parties in Kaduna State and a warning to law enforcement agencies against politically motivated interference in democratic activities.
