Lawyers petition IGP over alleged N50m property vandalism, court order disobedience by ACP Babagana Bukar
Nigeria’s Inspector-General of Police (IGP) has been petitioned over alleged court disobedience and acts of vandalism by an officer of the Force.
A Kano-based law firm, Bashir Yusuf Tudunwazirchi & Associates (Yusuf Maigoro Chambers), acting on behalf of Mr. Alkasim Musa and Mahaboob Mohammed Radman, IGP seeking urgent disciplinary action against an Assistant Commissioner of Police, ACP Babagana Bukar, attached to Zone One Headquarters in Kano.
In a petition dated July 22, 2026, signed by Bashir Yusuf Muhammad, Esq., the law firm accused ACP Bukar of illegal invasion, deploying armed police personnel to occupy disputed land, grave abuse of office, and blatant disregard for subsisting court orders.
According to the petition, the dispute centers around a property situated at No. 17 Bashir Magashi Street/Road, UDB Quarters, Kano (also designated as Plot No. 337, Hotoro GRA, Kano State).
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The petitioners noted that on December 29, 2025, the Kano State High Court (Suit No. K/1211/2025) issued an interim injunction restraining all parties from taking further steps and directing them to maintain the status quo.
Despite the order, the lawyers alleged that ACP Bukar threatened to arrest their clients, prompting them to approach the Federal High Court, Kano Division. Consequently, on July 20, 2026, Hon. Justice S. A. Amobeda of the Federal High Court in Suit No. FHC/KN/CS/350/2026 granted further comprehensive interim orders restraining the Nigeria Police Force, AIG Zone One Kano, and ACP Bukar from inviting, arresting, detaining, or harassing the applicants; interfering with, demolishing, or removing structures and fittings on the property; as well as directing the immediate return of household fittings, transformers, tiles, and other property previously removed.
The petition further alleges that despite being served with these subsisting court orders, ACP Bukar deployed police officers to the premises on a Saturday without any judicial execution warrant or court bailiffs. The officers allegedly supervised and facilitated the vandalization of the residence and the removal of valuables and fittings estimated at approximately ₦50,000,000.00.
“During the operation, learned counsel attached to the Police Legal Department drew the attention of ACP Babagana Bukar to the subsisting court orders and advised against any action capable of violating them. Despite that advice, ACP Babagana Bukar ignored the warning and proceeded with the operation,” the petition reads.
Unlawful arrest and alleged coercion
The legal team further alleged that following the operation, Mr. Alkasim Musa—the caretaker of the property and a co-applicant in the suit—was unlawfully arrested and detained for a day by officers under ACP Bukar’s command. During his detention, Musa was reportedly pressured to write a false statement accepting personal responsibility for removing the missing ₦50,000,000 property.
The lawyers also raised concerns over statements allegedly made by the senior police officer boasting of institutional immunity:
“During the course of these events, ACP Babagana Bukar openly boasted that even if a petition was submitted against him to the Inspector-General of Police, the Inspector-General would merely request his comments on the allegations and that would be the end of the matter without any meaningful disciplinary action,” the petitioner stated.
The law firm urged the Inspector-General of Police to intervene immediately to protect public confidence in the police force and uphold the rule of law. The petition called on the IGP to order an immediate, impartial investigation into ACP Babagana Bukar’s conduct; investigate the circumstances surrounding the missing N50m worth of property and the illegal detention of Mr. Alkasim Musa, commence formal disciplinary proceedings against ACP Bukar, enforce immediate compliance with all subsisting court orders.
Copies of the petition were also served to the chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC), the Assistant Inspector-General of Police (Zone 1, Kano), the Minister of Police Affairs, and the Senate Committee on Police.
Efforts by NigerianSketch to reach ACP Babagana Bukar or the Zone 1 Police Command spokesperson for comments were unsuccessful as of the time of publishing this report.
