Court Orders Arrest of Kwara NSCDC Commandant Over Failure to Appear in Assault Case

A magistrate court sitting in Ilorin has ordered the arrest of the Kwara State Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Abbas Mohammed, over his failure to appear before the court in an ongoing assault case involving two NSCDC officers.

The presiding judge, Chief Magistrate Adebayo Dupe, directed the Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Adekimi Ojo, to arrest the commandant and produce him before the court on the next adjourned date.

The order followed an application filed by counsel to Aladodo Abdullateef Nurudeen, who allegedly suffered assault at the hands of two NSCDC officers, Ajayi Williams Gbolahan and Busari Babatunde.

Counsel for the complainant, D.A. Ariyo-Osu, told the court that the NSCDC commandant failed to comply with previous orders directing him to produce the defendants and personally appear before the court.

According to Ariyo-Osu, the commandant’s conduct was contemptuous and showed disregard for the authority of the court.

In response, counsel for the accused officers, A. Imam, informed the court that the NSCDC had petitioned the office of the Kwara State Chief Judge, seeking a reassignment of the case due to an alleged loss of confidence in the court handling the matter.

Delivering a brief ruling, Chief Magistrate Dupe ordered the police commissioner to ensure the arrest and production of the NSCDC commandant before the court on June 10, 2026.

The case originated from a direct criminal complaint filed by the Nigerian Bar Association against the two NSCDC officers over the alleged assault of Barrister Nurudeen at the NSCDC office in Ilorin.

According to the complaint signed by NBA secretary, Dauda Jimoh, the incident occurred on April 10, 2026, when the lawyer visited the NSCDC office in his professional capacity to attend to a client.

The NBA alleged that the officers physically assaulted the lawyer despite identifying himself as a legal practitioner, adding that he was dragged into a room where he was further brutalised.

The association described the alleged attack as an abuse of power and stated that the victim sustained injuries and humiliation during the incident.

The complaint further alleged that the state NSCDC commandant was present at the scene but failed to intervene.

At an earlier hearing, counsel representing the prosecution, Barrister J.S. Muhammed, standing in for Prof. Ariyo-Osu, informed the court that the NSCDC commandant had ignored a prior order to produce the accused officers.

Counsel for the NSCDC, M.M. Kolo, however apologised for the commandant’s absence, explaining that one of the accused officers allegedly absconded after disciplinary proceedings were initiated against him, while the second officer could not be officially identified.

The court subsequently granted the prosecution’s applications and adjourned the matter for further hearing.