***Demands N300m Compensation, Public Apology
An Abuja-based legal practitioner, Jacob Solomon Agada, has petitioned the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hassan Bala Abubakar, over the alleged unlawful arrest, detention, and brutal assault of his client’s workers by personnel of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), in connection with a civil land dispute currently pending before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
In the petition dated July 25, 2025, and received at the Office of the Chief of Air Staff the same day, Agada accused Flight Lieutenant Hussein Habib Denja, the Provost Officer at the Nigeria Air Force Camp, Mogadishu Barracks, Asokoro, of leading multiple invasions and arrest operations on plots 1317 and 1328, Extension III B Layout, Kubwa, Bwari Area Council, Abuja—properties lawfully claimed by his client, Stats Global Homes Ltd, which is the 2nd Plaintiff in the pending civil case.
The land in dispute is also being claimed by Alhaji Manir Lawal, the 1st Defendant in the suit marked FCTHC/CV/3844/2024, currently before Justice Othman Musa of High Court No. 7, Maitama, Abuja.
Despite the pendency of the court case, Agada alleged that on July 22, armed Air Force personnel, allegedly acting at the prompting of Alhaji Lawal, invaded his client’s premises, forcefully arrested three staff members without a court order, and detained them at Mogadishu Barracks.
While efforts were being made to secure their release, the same officer—alongside Flight Lieutenant A. A. Abdullahi, Officer-in-Charge of Regiment Personnel—allegedly returned with more troops and abducted two additional workers, Omeje Usman Eneojo and one Sunday, after physically assaulting them.
The two victims are reportedly receiving treatment for severe injuries at Kubwa General Hospital. Agada said medical reports and photographic evidence of the assault have been preserved and will be tendered in court.
“This act of flagrant abuse of military power… not only undermines the sanctity of the judiciary and its processes but also violates the constitutional rights of our client’s staff to dignity of persons and protection from unlawful arrest and torture,” the petition reads in part.
The lawyer strongly condemned what he described as the militarization of a civil dispute, warning that the Nigerian Air Force has no constitutional role in intervening in private land matters.
He demanded a full investigation into the conduct of Flight Lieutenant Hussein and others involved; dministrative sanctions against identified personnel; a formal public apology to the victims and Stats Global Homes Ltd; and Compensation of ₦300 million for the physical and psychological trauma suffered.
He further warned that failure by the NAF to act within seven days of receipt of the petition would result in legal action and formal complaints to the National Human Rights Commission and the Attorney General of the Federation.
Although the matter is still pending before Justice Musa, efforts to reach the Director of Public Relations and Information (DOPRI) of the Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, for comments were unsuccessful. Calls and messages to her phone went unanswered as of press time.
The Chief Judge of the FCT High Court, Justice Hussein Baba Yusuf, had earlier assigned the land dispute to Justice Musa for adjudication before the reported interference by NAF personnel.
