A Senior Magistrate in Ibi, Taraba State, T.Y. Atiku, has petitioned the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, alleging that police officers detained complainants in a case pending before his court and failed to comply with his directive to produce them.
In the petition dated November 12, 2026, Atiku accused the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Ibi and other officers of interfering with proceedings in a criminal case involving Tijjani and others against Ukasha Kasimu.
The case, registered as UA.CI/CR/27/2026, was initiated on November 11 by Tijjani Ibrahim Aminu, Ibrahim Aminu and Bello Ibrahim Aminu through direct criminal prosecution. The complainants accused Kasimu of criminal force and assault, defamation, criminal trespass and disturbance of public peace.
Atiku said the court issued an arrest warrant against Kasimu before Sergeant Dauda Bitrus entered his chambers at about 10 am and attempted to arrest the complainants over a counter-complaint allegedly lodged by the defendant at the police station.
The magistrate said the officer subsequently insisted that the complainants be taken to the Ibi Police Division for questioning and reportedly challenged the court’s jurisdiction over the case.
Atiku said he permitted the officers to take the complainants but directed them to return with both parties within one hour for the formal mention of the case.
He alleged that the officers instead detained the complainants at the police division and failed to bring them back as directed.
The magistrate further accused the DPO of commencing proceedings over the same dispute at the police station on November 11 and adjourning the matter for further hearing of witnesses.
Atiku said he later directed the DPO in writing to produce the parties before his court at 9 am on November 12. However, he alleged that the police failed to comply when the court began sitting.
Expressing concern over the incident, the magistrate questioned the officers’ understanding of judicial authority and the limits of police investigations.
“It is funny that we still have police officers that don’t know that the court can give appropriate orders when the need arises,” he stated in the petition.
Atiku warned that such conduct could undermine the administration of justice and worsen insecurity, particularly in Southern Taraba.
He asked the Attorney General to draw the attention of the Taraba State Commissioner of Police to the allegations and called for an investigation into the conduct of the officers involved.
The magistrate also requested disciplinary action against any officers found culpable, alongside regular training and retraining to improve police officers’ understanding of their professional responsibilities.
The petition was copied to the Chief Judge of Taraba State, the Commissioner of Police, the chairman of the state’s Magistrates Association of Nigeria, the chairmen of the Nigerian Bar Association branches in Jalingo and Wukari, and the DPO in Ibi.
