A Lagos-based contractor, Mr. Yusuf Tasleem, has filed a suit against his wife, Aisha Mohammed Sani, for unlawfully arresting and detaining his father over alleged trumped-up accusation of child abduction.

In the said suit, the first respondent is the Nigeria Police Force; the second respondent is the Lagos State Police Commissioner; the third respondent is the Area Commander of Lion Building, Lagos while Aisha is the fourth respondent.

In the suit filed at the Federal High Court, Abuja Judicial Division, the applicant said the police, acting on the instruction of his wife, arrested and detained his father, Mr. Shettima Fasasi Yusuf, for three days and subjected him to torture.

He averred that the inhuman arrest and detention of his father was carried out despite the pendency of a suit on divorce and custody of his three children at the Upper Area Court in Lokoja, Kogi State.

In an affidavit deposed to, Tasleem averred that his marriage became rocky when his wife refused to care for their children and emotionally detached herself from matrimonial duties.

He averred that he met his wife many years ago at a polytechnic in Kaduna State and they entered into a relationship that blossomed into a marriage with three children- Khalid (10), Mohammed (8) and Hauwa (5).

He noted that he helped his wife further her education up to master?s degree and got her a good job, first at his father?s school in Kogi State and thereafter when he moved his family to Lekki, Lagos.

Tasleem averred further that his wife suddenly changed towards him and their children when she started returning home late, leaving the children at home to fend for themselves.

He said his wife also abandoned him and their young children to do all the necessary house chores, including cooking and laundry.

He averred that save for the intervention of neighbours, their children almost burnt down their home in the course of cooking when their mother did not return home in time and the gas cylinder blew up.

He averred that after reporting his wife?s behaviour to appropriate persons and religious organisations without any positive change, he decided to move the children to his father?s residence in Lokoja, Kogi State, who in turn informed his wife that her children were with him and had been enrolled in his school, and that his wife subsequently came around to see the children.

He explained that men of the Lion Building Area Command, accompanied by his estranged wife, stormed the premises of his father?s private school in Lokoja, Kogi State on October 12, 2024,, subjected him (father) to dehumanising treatment and subsequently took him to their station in Lagos where he was detained and further dehumanised for three days.

He, therefore, sought a declaration that raiding, ransacking the peaceful home of the applicant, and abduction of the applicant?s children to hand them over to the 4th respondent (his wife) when there is already a pending action for divorce and custody of children before the Upper Area Court Lokoja is unlawful illegal and unconstitutional, null and void.

?An order of perpetual injunction restraining the respondents by themselves, their agents, servants, employees and any police officer (s) and men from arresting or detaining the Applicant and his parents, agents, servants and privies or properties, into their custody or doing anything concerning this investigation which the Applicant was subjected to a continuous threat of wrongful arrest and unlawful detention.

?An order mandating the respondents jointly and severally to pay the applicant the sum of N100 million only, as specific and general damages for all the trauma caused the applicant.?

No date has been fixed yet for the hearing of the suit. (The Nation)

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