The Inspector-General of Police, Lagos State Commissioner of Police and Police Service Commission have appealed a Lagos State High Court judgment in a fundamental rights suit involving Alhaji Hameed Tajudeen.
The appellants, dissatisfied with Justice O. L. Alebiosu’s judgment delivered on August 7, 2026, asked the Court of Appeal in Lagos to set aside the decision of the lower court.
In their Notice of Appeal, they challenged the finding that the Lagos Commissioner of Police declared Tajudeen wanted without first obtaining a court order.
The appellants argued that the High Court failed to properly consider an earlier order issued by Magistrate L. A. Owolabi of Magistrate Court No. 3, Ogba, Ikeja, on February 16, 2026. They said the order authorised Tajudeen’s arrest and 14-day remand pending police investigations.
They maintained that the arrest and detention were carried out within the provisions of the law and the exceptions recognised by the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
The police and PSC also argued that Tajudeen had allegedly evaded arrest and could not initially be located in Nigeria. They said his eventual arrest in the Republic of Benin was facilitated by the International Criminal Police Organisation, INTERPOL.
The appellants contended that the seriousness of the allegations against Tajudeen, which they described as felony and capital offences, as well as his alleged flight from Nigeria, should have received greater consideration by the High Court.
They also challenged the finding that the police needed a separate court order before declaring a suspect wanted. According to them, law enforcement authorities may take necessary steps to secure the arrest of a suspect who allegedly flees the country and poses a flight risk.
The appellants further cited the Supreme Court decision in Alhaji Mujahid Dokubo-Asari v. Federal Republic of Nigeria (2007) to argue that individual rights must, in certain circumstances, be balanced against public safety and national security.
They urged the Court of Appeal to overturn the August 7 judgment, arguing that the case raises important questions about police powers, the declaration of suspects as wanted and the balance between fundamental rights and public security.
