Unlawful detention: Widow, detained children file suit against IGP, FCT Police Commissioner

Lovelyn Chizoba Adimike, the Widow of slain Lagos-based businessman, Chief Lucky Chinedu Adimike, has along with two of her children sued the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Olatunji Disu, and the FCT Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Sanusi, over allegations bordering on unlawful detention.

The applicants, through their lawyer, Chibuzor Obiajunwa, sought the immediate release of the detainees who are currently in police custody.

Lovelyn, Anthony Odirachukwumma Adimike, Stephanie Chinyere Adimike and Comfort Ajibade, who are 1st to 4th applicants, had sued the police, IGP and the FCT police commissioner as 1st to 4th respondents respectively.

They named the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Mr Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, as 4th respondent in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1149/2026 and filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

Although Lovelyn, the 1st applicant, is not in detention, her two children, Anthony and Stephanie, including Comfort, a friend to her daughter, had been in police custody after the death of her husband, Chief Adimike, was discovered on May 15, 2026.

They were alleged to be in detention at the FCT Intelligence Response Team (IRT) detention facility, formerly called, Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) Headquarters, Behind Area 3 Police Station, Gudu District, Abuja.

The applicants, in the fundamental rights enforcement suit dated June 2 but filed on June 3, prayed the court to stop forthwith the violation of their rights to life, dignity of their human persons, personal liberty, freedom of movement, among others.

They sought an order directing the IGP and the commissioner to charge all of them or anyone of them before appropriate court if the police investigation established a prima facie case against them or any of the affected applicants.

Besides, they urged the court to thereafter order the police to transmit the original copy of the police investigation case file to the AGF and Minister of Justice, Mr Fagbemi, for a legal opinion and necessary administrative action.

In the affidavit in support of the originating motion on notice deposed to by Lovelyn, she said she had been married to the late Adimike for almost 25 years and that the marriage had produced four children.

Lovelyn said her husband, a businessman, became interested in property business in Abuja in the year 2016.

According to her, his new business interest started bringing him regularly to Abuja from Lagos where they are based as a family.

She said while Anthony, 23, was posted to Abuja for his national youth service after graduation, Stephanie, 20, who is also in university, came to Abuja for her industrial training.

She said this prompted her late husband to rent a house in Guzape, Abuja where they would be living and where he would also be staying with them whenever he came to Abuja.

“On 11th May, 2025 my husband travelled to Abuja while I remained in Lagos.

“On 13th May, 2025, my husband expressed an interest that he wanted the 2nd and 3rd applicants to cook stew and soup for him.

“On the basis of that, I sent a list of ingredients to my daughter, the 3rd applicant.”

The 53-year-old woman averred that on May 14, Stephanie duly bought all the ingredients as instructed and she and Anthony cooked the soup and stew that evening.

“My late husband, who was present in the kitchen, duly made a video of the cooking by our children and proudly shared it on our nuclear family platform. known as ‘Lucky Adimike Family.”

“That night, after my husband Chief Godwin Chinedu Lucky Adimike went to bed, one of my daughter’s friends by name Comfort Ajibade, the 4th applicant came over to the house.

“The 2nd, 3rd and 4th applicants drove out for a night outing that night as they were previously used to doing whenever the 2nd and 3rd applicants were in the house on their own.”

“The next day, my children went about their business as usual without knowing that their father had been killed in his bedroom.

“It was me who continued to call him (my husband) but up to 11am of 15th May, 2025, he was yet to respond to me.

“Worried, I called the 2nd applicant (Anthony) who I instructed to immediately return to the house and open his father’s bedroom door.

“On his return to the house, he opened the bedroom door and found his father prone and lifeless. The screenshot of my call log showing the call is attached as Exhibit A7,” she narrated.