CHIEF J. A. OGUNDIRAN I. K. AFOLABI TAJUDEEN SHITTU ALHAJA BANKE BADMUS V. COMMISSIONER OF POLICE (KWARA STATE POLICE COMMAND) MR. BABATUNDE MOSEBOLATAN V. MOSES OLADOSU GEORGE CAPTAIN TAIWO POPOOLA V. COMMISSIONER OF POLICE (KWARA STATE POLICE COMMAND) MALLAM WAZIR (DIVISIONAL POLICE OFFICER, OYUN LOCAL GOVERNMENT, KWARA STATE)

ONNOGHEN, JCA (Delivering the Lead Judgment): This is an appeal against the decision of the Federal High Court sitting at Ilorin in a consolidated suit Nos. FHC/IL/M.3/2002 and FHC/IL/M.4/2002, delivered by Hon. Justice P. F. Olayiwola on the 24th day of June, 2002 in which he dismissed the applications of the appellants in a single ruling in respect of the consolidated suits.

The facts of the case include the following: The appellants in the consolidated cases are members of the then All Peoples Party in Offa and Erin-Ile respectively. On the 8th day of February, 2002, the appellants intended to hold a political rally in their respective party branch secretariats at Offa town and Erin-Ile town respectively. However, the two sets of respondents in the consolidated suits according to the appellants, not only prevented the two meetings from holding but also dispersed the applicants and other party members who had gathered for the meeting, harassed and threatened to shoot them. The resp…