Two Abuja-based lawyers have petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, alleging that police officers attached to the Garki Police Division, assaulted, harassed and intimidated them, while also destroying their mobile phones.
In the petition dated July 13, 2026, and signed by Ikechukwu Obasi, the lawyers—Chibuike Okoro and Ikechukwu Obasi, accused the police officers of violating their fundamental rights and acting contrary to the provisions of the Nigeria Police Act, 2020.
According to the petition, the incident occurred on July 8, 2026, at about 8:48 a.m. The lawyers alleged that they witnessed police officers from the Garki Police Division, allegedly assaulting and harassing a commercial tricycle rider.
They said they began recording the incident with their mobile phones to preserve evidence of the alleged misconduct and thereafter appealed to the police officers to stop violating the commercial tricycle rider’s rights.
However, the petition alleged that the police officers immediately turned on them, physically assaulting, verbally abusing and threatening them before forcefully seizing their phones.
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The lawyers further claimed that despite identifying themselves as legal practitioners, the police officers deliberately smashed their phones beyond repair because they had recorded the incident.
They argued that the police officers’ actions were unlawful and inconsistent with the obligation of the police to respect and protect the fundamental rights of citizens.
The petition also cited a subsisting court decision affirming the right of Nigerians to record police officers carrying out their duties in public, arguing that the officers’ conduct amounted to a violation of that right.
The lawyers further alleged that when they reported the incident at the Garki Police Division, the divisional police officer justified the actions of his officers and reportedly stated that he would also assault anyone who recorded him while carrying out his official duties.
The petition urged the inspector-general of police to immediately investigate the incident, identify the police officers involved and subject them to disciplinary measures in accordance with the Police Act and Force Disciplinary Regulations.
They also demanded a written public apology to be published in at least two national newspapers and aired on two television stations, alongside a written undertaking that police officers would no longer harass citizens for lawfully recording police activities in public.
In addition, the lawyers are seeking ₦200 million as general, aggravated and exemplary damages for the alleged destruction of their phones, injury to their professional reputation and violation of their fundamental rights.
They warned that failure to comply with their demands within seven days would leave them with no option but to institute legal proceedings and seek further judicial remedies against the police.
