A legal firm in Ilorin, Mumini Jimoh & Co, has petitioned the Chief Judge of Kwara State, Justice Abiodun Ayodele Adebara, over alleged politically motivated criminal prosecutions and prolonged detention of members and supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The petition, dated October 30, 2026, was signed by Mumini Jimoh, SAN, head of the law firm, which accused the Kwara State Ministry of Justice, through the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), of allegedly instituting criminal charges against opposition members at the prompting of some political actors in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
In the petition, the solicitors expressed concern over what they described as an emerging pattern of using criminal proceedings to intimidate opposition figures, restrict their political activities and keep them in prolonged detention.
According to the firm, the affected PDP members were charged with offences including breach of public peace, unlawful assembly, criminal conspiracy to commit political violence and alleged membership of secret cults.
The lawyers alleged that some of the charges were filed without adequate investigation or sufficient evidence to establish a prima facie case, claiming that the proceedings were being used to obtain remand orders and keep defendants in correctional facilities for extended periods.
The firm disclosed that it had documented at least seven such cases within the last two months in the Ilorin Judicial Division, alleging that some defendants were arraigned late in the evening and subsequently remanded without reasonable opportunities to pursue bail applications.
Lawyers Raise Concerns Over Judicial Process
The solicitors warned that the alleged development could undermine public confidence in the judiciary and threaten constitutional guarantees of fair hearing and the presumption of innocence.
They specifically cited Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, which guarantees the right to fair hearing, alongside provisions of the Kwara State Administration of Criminal Justice Law aimed at ensuring speedy trials and preventing arbitrary detention.
While expressing confidence in the judiciary under Justice Adebara’s leadership, the firm urged the Chief Judge to take administrative measures to prevent judicial processes from being exploited for political purposes.
Among other requests, the lawyers asked the Chief Judge to draw the attention of Heads of Courts to the need for caution and strict adherence to judicial discretion when considering remand and bail applications, particularly in cases allegedly arising from politically motivated complaints.
They also called for strict compliance with the state’s Administration of Criminal Justice Law, especially provisions relating to first appearances, bail applications and the prevention of prolonged detention while defendants await prosecutorial advice.
NJC, NHRC Petitions Threatened
The law firm further urged the Chief Judge to engage the State Attorney-General on the need to exercise the constitutional powers of the office to prevent possible abuse of prosecutorial authority.
It also called for appropriate administrative and supervisory interventions to safeguard the independence, integrity and neutrality of the judiciary.
Reaffirming the PDP’s commitment to peaceful and lawful political activities, the solicitors warned that their client could explore additional legal and institutional remedies, including petitions to the National Judicial Council (NJC) and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), if the alleged persecution continued.
The firm added that a schedule containing details of some of the affected cases had been attached to the petition for the Chief Judge’s consideration.
