A Lagos-based lawyer and human rights activist, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, has sued the Nigeria Police Force and the Inspector General of Police, Suleiman Abba, over the threat by some aggrieved policemen to commence an industrial action on March 28, the same date the presidential election would hold.

More than 15,000 policemen had reportedly threatened to either go on strike or disrupt the general elections on account of unpaid salaries.

Adegboruwa, in the suit filed before a Federal High Court in Lagos on Wednesday, is praying for an order of the court barring the planned strike.

The applicant’s claim was that men of the Nigeria Police Force, who by the definition of the Police Act, render essential services could not lawfully abandon their duty of protecting lives and properties to embark on a strike.

According to him, policemen are not entitled to disengage from or withdraw their services   under any guise whatsoever.

The lawyer said if the strike was not stopped, absence of police protection during the election would hinder or frustrate the exercise as many Nigerians would be apprehensive and anxious about their safety, in view of past experiences of violence during elections.

Adegboruwa, in the affidavit filed in support of the action, said he knew for a fact that election times were sensitive times, as some thugs and armed men recruited by some politicians often resorted to violence.

“Since the respondents announced their decision to disengage from service, l have been apprehensive because of the consequence of approaching the polling booths to cast my vote without the presence of the respondents in my polling booth/voting point at Lekki where l reside.

“My life will be exposed to danger if the service of the respondents is withdrawn as threatened and as such it will be difficult for me to exercise my franchise,” he averred.

The suit, which was filed on Wednesday, has yet to be assigned to any judge.