Court slams Kaduna Police over ban on political meetings, orders N15m damages to ADC, SDP

By Ibrahim Hassan-Wuyo, Kaduna

A Federal High Court sitting successful Kaduna has faulted the Kaduna State Police Command for imposing a prohibition connected governmental meetings, declaring the enactment unconstitutional and beyond the powers of the police.

Justice Murtala Zubairu, successful a landmark ruling connected Wednesday, awarded N15 cardinal successful damages to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the Social Democratic Party (SDP), describing the police’s behaviour arsenic a “gross violation” of the governmental parties’ rights to peaceful assembly and association.

The judgement followed a lawsuit stemming from the disruption of an ADC gathering held connected August 30, 2025, successful Kaduna. The event, attended by erstwhile Kaduna State Governor Mallam Nasir el-Rufai and different enactment leaders, was attacked by thugs who vandalized spot and injured respective participants.

After the incident, the Kaduna State Police Command alleged that the gathering was convened without anterior notification to information agencies, claiming it had earlier issued warnings against specified gatherings. The constabulary subsequently invited el-Rufai and six ADC members for questioning implicit alleged transgression conspiracy, incitement, and nationalist disturbance.

Delivering judgment, Justice Zubairu held that the constabulary acted ultra vires—beyond their ineligible powers—and violated the absorption parties’ rights nether Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

“I find and clasp that the applicant fundamentally breached their statutory work and unlawfully infringed upon the counter-claimants’ cardinal rights,” the justice stated. “The applicant’s actions show a wide signifier of maltreatment of power, warranting perpetual restraint by the Court.”

He further condemned the broad prohibition connected governmental meetings successful Kaduna, describing it arsenic “selective enforcement and a menace to democracy.”

Justice Zubairu awarded N15 cardinal successful full damages against the police, covering the “arbitrary suspension” of the ADC meeting, the “unlawful ex-parte injunction” obtained without owed procedure, and the “failure to analyse the August 30 violence.”

He besides vacated the ex-parte bid granted to the constabulary connected September 4, 2025, declaring it “issued without merit and successful breach of procedure.”

The tribunal issued a perpetual injunction restraining the Kaduna State Commissioner of Police, his officers, and agents from interfering with the lawful governmental activities of the ADC and SDP without owed process.

In addition, Justice Zubairu directed the constabulary to analyse the August 30 onslaught and taxable a elaborate study to the Attorney-General of Kaduna State wrong 60 days.

The ruling has been hailed by observers arsenic a reaffirmation of citizens’ law rights and a informing against the misuse of constabulary powers successful governmental matters.

The station Court slams Kaduna Police implicit prohibition connected governmental meetings, orders N15m damages to ADC, SDP appeared archetypal connected Vanguard News.