Former Osun LG Boss Drags IGP to Court Over ‘Wanted’ Tag, Demands N500m

A former Caretaker Chairman of Irewole LGA in Osun State, Babajide Jooda, is in court fighting to clear his name — and he wants half a billion naira for it.

 

Jooda filed a fundamental rights suit at the Federal High Court, Abuja against the Inspector-General of Police, a former Force PRO, and 16 other respondents over his February 2026 declaration as a wanted man.

 

Jooda says the police published his name in newspapers and on a Special Gazette as wanted for terrorism, illegal firearms and culpable homicide. The problem, he argues, is that the court order used to back the publication was fake.

 

Those joined in the suit include the AGF, Police Service Commission, Osun CP, IRT Commander, a former Karu Chief Magistrate, the court Registrar, and 11 officers.

 

The former council boss had earlier been picked up with others over the killing of the reinstated Irewole LGA Chairman. But according to him, police freed him after dropping charges three different times.

 

Court records he cited show the contrast:

Charge MOS/150/2025 filed March 11, 2025 at an Osun Magistrate Court listed him as 1st defendant.

But charge FHC/ABJ/CR/170/2025 filed Oct 15, 2025 at the Federal High Court, Abuja did not include his name at all. The prosecution had asked to withdraw previous charges and file an amended one — which the court granted.

 

Despite that, Jooda said he woke up to “wanted” adverts months later. He described the move as oppression, embarrassment and dehumanisation, and alleged it was politically driven.

 

Jooda is asking for N250m in general damages and another N250m in exemplary damages.

 

Before the suit, his lawyer had written the Minister of Police Affairs demanding a public apology and N50m compensation, claiming the warrant used was obtained in the FCT for an alleged offence in Ikire, Osun.

 

The police are yet to respond publicly to the allegations. The claims remain to be tested in court.