*Alleges Failure To Protect Nigerians
A Lagos-based legal practitioner, Kabir Akingbolu, has filed a suit before the Federal High Court in Lagos seeking an order compelling top security chiefs in Nigeria to resign over what he described as their persistent failure to curb insecurity across the country.
The suit, marked FHC/LAG/CS/986/2026, was filed at the Ikoyi Division of the Federal High Court.
Listed as defendants in the suit are the Inspector-General of Police, the Director-General of the Department of State Services, the National Security Adviser, the Chief of Defence Staff, the Chief of Army Staff, the Chief of Air Staff, the Chief of Naval Staff, the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service, and the Commandant-General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.
Akingbolu, through an originating summons, is asking the court to determine whether the continued incidents of terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other violent crimes across the federation amount to a failure by the defendants to discharge their constitutional and statutory responsibilities.
He is also urging the court to determine whether the security chiefs, being public officers charged with protecting lives and property, should be held accountable for alleged acts of omission, negligence and ineffective performance of their duties.
The plaintiff anchored his claims on Section 14(2)(b) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, which provides that the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.
He also relied on relevant provisions of the Police Act 2020, the Armed Forces Act, the National Security Agencies Act, the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023, the Immigration Act 2015 and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps Act.
Among the reliefs sought, Akingbolu is asking the court for a declaration that the persistent insecurity across the country constitutes a breach of constitutional obligations by the defendants.
He is also seeking a declaration that the defendants are duty-bound to take all lawful measures to protect citizens and ensure public safety.
The plaintiff further asked the court for an order directing the defendants to resign from their respective offices over what he described as their “abysmal failure” to discharge their duties.
In the alternative, Akingbolu is asking the court to mandate the defendants to review and strengthen existing security strategies and enhance inter-agency collaboration to effectively address insecurity nationwide.
In an affidavit of urgency filed in support of the suit, the plaintiff argued that the matter requires accelerated hearing due to the prevailing security challenges in the country.
He maintained that it would be in the interest of justice to abridge the time within which the defendants are required to respond, given the national importance of the issues raised and their direct impact on the safety of citizens.
Justice Osiagor has fixed July 6, 2026, for hearing of the suit.
