Detained TikToker Timothy ‘Tumma’ Gabriel Sues Nigerian Police IG, Other For N100Million Damages Over Arrest, Prolonged Detention
The Nigeria Police Force and CP Uche Ifeanyi Henry, the Director of the Nigeria Police Force-National Cybercrime Center, are also listed as the 2nd and 3rd respondents in the suit.
Popular TikToker Timothy ‘Tumma’ Gabriel has filed a lawsuit against the Inspector General of Police at the Federal High Court in Abuja, challenging his arrest and continued detention.
The case, filed on February 21, 2025, by Abuja-based human rights lawyer, S. M. Oyeghe Esq., is marked FHC/ABJ/CS/322/2025.
The Nigeria Police Force and CP Uche Ifeanyi Henry, the Director of the Nigeria Police Force-National Cybercrime Center, are also listed as the 2nd and 3rd respondents in the suit.
The Applicant is asking the court to declare that his arrest and detention since Thursday, February 6, 2025, along with his exposure to inhuman and degrading treatment, constitutes a gross violation of his fundamental right to dignity as guaranteed by Section 34 (1) (a) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and Article 5 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act, Cap. A9, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
He is also seeking a declaration that his continued detention from February 6, 2025, until February 14, 2025, or up to the date of filing the lawsuit, is illegal, unlawful, and a gross violation of his fundamental right to liberty.
Additionally, the Applicant is requesting an order compelling the Respondents to release him immediately pending his arraignment.
He is also demanding N100,000,000.00 (One Hundred Million Naira) in general and/or exemplary damages for the unwarranted violation of his fundamental rights.
The Applicant stated that he was arrested at approximately 6:30 pm on Thursday, February 6, 2025, by a team of officers from the Nigeria Police Force at the Berger Quarri Police Station in Mpape, Abuja.
He was later transferred to the Cyber-Crime Centre of the Nigeria Police Force.
Since his arrest, and up until the time of filing the lawsuit, he has not been granted administrative bail, and the Respondents have shown no willingness to release him on bail, despite the fact that he is being detained on allegations of cyberbullying the police, cyberstalking, and other related offences, all of which are bailable offences.
The case is yet to be assigned to a judge.
Earlier in February, SaharaReporters arrested and detained Timothy, known online as Tumma, over a comment he made regarding police directives.
The arrest was linked to a viral statement he made, claiming that the police had announced that anyone who insulted government officials should be arrested.
In a video, Tumma said, “If any officer says he wants to check your phone, beat him. Even if the Commissioner of Police or President Tinubu says he wants to check your phone, beat him very well.”
He emphasised that a mobile phone is a personal possession.
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♬ original sound – OFFICIAL_TUMMA (TIMOTHY)
He also directed his anger at President Ahmed Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje, Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Lagos Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
He dared them to arrest him.
His lawyer, Oyeghe, informed SaharaReporters that the arrest was not based on any petition. Instead, the police acted on their own accord, as the allegations in the video implicate them and other influential Nigerians.
