A Magistrate Court in Ilorin, Kwara State, has ordered the arrest of the state Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Abbas Mohammed, for failing to appear before the court in an ongoing assault case involving two NSCDC officers.

Chief Magistrate Adebayo Dupe, presiding over the matter on Wednesday, directed the Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Adekimi Ojo, to arrest the commandant and produce him before the court on the next adjourned date of June 10, 2026.

The order followed an application filed by counsel to Barrister Aladodo Abdullateef Nurudeen, who was allegedly assaulted by NSCDC officers Ajayi Williams Gbolahan and Busari Babatunde.

According to the prosecution, represented by Prof. D.A. Ariyo-Osu, the commandant failed to comply with earlier court orders requiring him to produce the defendants and personally appear before the court. Ariyo-Osu described the commandant’s actions as “contemptuous and disrespectful.”

Responding, counsel for the NSCDC officers, A. Imam, said the commandant had petitioned the office of the Kwara State Chief Judge for reassignment of the case, citing a loss of confidence in the court.

In his ruling, Chief Magistrate Dupe emphasized the need for compliance with lawful court directives and granted the arrest order to ensure the commandant’s presence at the next hearing.

The case originated from a criminal complaint filed by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ilorin Branch, against the two NSCDC officers for allegedly assaulting Barrister Nurudeen at the NSCDC office in Ilorin on April 10, 2026.

According to the NBA, the lawyer was confronted while attending to a client, and despite identifying himself as a legal practitioner, he was reportedly dragged into a room and assaulted. The association described the incident as “unprovoked” and a “blatant abuse of power,” noting that the lawyer sustained injuries and humiliation.

The NBA further alleged that the NSCDC commandant was present during the incident but failed to intervene. The complaint cited violations of Sections 246, 265, and 396 of the Penal Code Law, covering assault, criminal intimidation, and causing hurt.

At a previous hearing, the prosecution informed the court that the NSCDC commandant had not complied with earlier directives to produce the accused officers. Counsel for the NSCDC, M.M. Kolo, explained that Ajayi Williams Gbolahan had absconded following disciplinary proceedings, while the second officer could not be officially identified.

The court subsequently granted the prosecution’s applications for a warrant of arrest and a summons to compel the NSCDC commandant’s appearance, adjourning the matter for further hearing.

Source: PM News