On 7 October, bailiffs led by Franklyn Ifeanyi Onwuasoanya moved to execute a Warrant of Possession issued by the Chief Magistrates Court in Awka, Anambra State. A man arrived and identified himself as the Divisional Police Officer of “B” Division, Awka. He ordered the bailiffs to stop. He said they lacked a superior court order. Onwuasoanya declined. The officer called for backup. When it arrived, the bailiffs were allegedly assaulted. Their clothes were torn. They forcibly took the warrant from them. Videos of the standoff circulated quickly.
Nigerian police have a long record of disregarding court orders. In 2016, the Department of State Services raided judges’ homes across several states. In 2019, police blocked the Supreme Court premises during a political dispute. Officers routinely ignore court orders on bail, possession, and injunctions, treating their uniforms as superior to the judicial process. The pattern has persisted across successive administrations.
Chidi Anselm Odinkalu, the human rights activist and former chairman of the National Human Rights Commission, called on Inspector-General Tunji Disu to discipline the officer. He noted that the police might charge him under the Cybercrimes Act, as they had done with a namesake in Enugu, rather than hold the DPO accountable. He described the officer’s conduct as presuming “that his uniform makes him a summary Court of Appeal.”
The Nigerian Bar Association’s Anaocha Branch condemned the incident. It called it an attack on judicial authority and the rule of law. The NBA said executing a valid court warrant is not subject to police permission. The association demanded that authorities identify and sanction the officer.
The police have not issued a statement. The DPO’s identity remains unconfirmed. It is unclear whether the officer disputes the warrant’s validity or acted on another party’s instruction. The bailiffs’ account has not been formally challenged. The videos show a tense scene, with uniformed officers confronting court officials. The warrant itself has not been produced publicly. The underlying property dispute remains unresolved.
Winners: The DPO, if he faces no consequences. The party resisting the warrant, who gained police protection. The police institution, if it shields its officer. Those who benefit from delays in court-ordered possession. Losers: The bailiffs, who were allegedly assaulted and lost the warrant. The Chief Magistrates Court, whose order was nullified by force. The party that obtained the warrant. Public confidence in the judiciary. The rule of law. Nigerians who rely on courts to settle disputes.
Bottom Line: A court issued a warrant. Police allegedly beat the bailiffs and seized it. The IGP must choose: discipline the DPO or confirm that a uniform outranks a court order.