JKD Multimedia Limited, operators of JKD Television and Hamada Radio Network, has dragged Ibrahim Kabiru Masari, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Political Matters, and the Nigeria Police Force before the Federal High Court in Kaduna over alleged violations of the fundamental human rights of its staff members.
The media organisation is seeking ₦15 million in compensation over the alleged invasion of its offices by armed police officers, attempts to arrest and detain its personnel, and alleged invasions of the residence of one of its staff members.
The suit, filed on October 19, 2026, at the Federal High Court in Kaduna, seeks the enforcement of the applicants’ rights to personal liberty, fair hearing, dignity, privacy and freedom of movement as guaranteed under the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
According to court documents obtained by ChroniclesReporters, the applicants are Zainab Yabagi, a journalist and broadcaster; the editor of JKD Television and Hamada Radio Network; and JKD Multimedia Limited.
The respondents include Masari; Assistant Superintendent of Police Zakka; the Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of the X Squad at the Kaduna State Police Command; the Commissioner of Police in Kaduna State; the Inspector-General of Police; and the Nigeria Police Force.
The applicants are asking the court to declare that the alleged invasion of their homes and offices violated their constitutionally guaranteed right to privacy. They are also seeking declarations that the alleged attempts to arrest and detain them violated their rights to personal liberty and dignity.
In addition to the ₦15 million compensation, the applicants are seeking a perpetual injunction restraining the respondents, their agents and representatives from further unlawful entry into their homes and offices, as well as the harassment, arrest or detention of the applicants or their family members.
The legal action follows an incident on September 11, 2026, when armed police officers from the Kaduna State Police Command allegedly invaded the premises of the media organisation in Kaduna.
In a statement announcing the lawsuit, the company alleged that the officers occupied its premises without a valid court order or warrant and detained its general manager and security personnel at the Kaduna State Police Command.
The organisation said it resorted to litigation after attempts to resolve the dispute amicably with Masari and the police failed to produce a settlement.
In the statement signed by its Managing Director, Aisha Yusuf Mamman, JKD Multimedia said it had approached the court to secure an order enforcing its staff members’ fundamental rights to personal liberty, fair hearing, respect and dignity.
The company disclosed that several organisations and prominent individuals had intervened in an attempt to resolve the dispute, including the President of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), the Chairman of the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON) and some elder statesmen.
Although it expressed appreciation for their interventions, the organisation said the efforts had not yielded the desired outcome.
“Despite the current stalemate, we are always ready for dialogue, based on rule of law, professionalism and respect. It takes two to tango,” the statement said.
However, the media organisation accused Masari of adopting what it described as an increasingly confrontational approach despite its willingness to participate in mediation.
“Unfortunately, Alh. Ibrahim Masari assumes the acceptance of mediation and peace by JKD TV is an opportunity for him to adopt a more belligerent and bellicose posture. We totally reject and will not accept the use of police to harass and intimidate or occupy our facility,” it added.
The company maintained that it was duly registered under Nigerian law and had the right to seek judicial intervention to protect its operations and the rights of its personnel.
It said the lawsuit was intended to put an end to what it described as police harassment, intimidation and the atmosphere of fear and uncertainty allegedly created among its staff by threats involving the use of the police.
“Under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, our decision to approach the Court is to bring an end to police harassment, intimidation and an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty among our staff by threats from Alh. Ibrahim Masari’s use of the police,” the statement said.
The organisation also questioned the circumstances surrounding the police action, alleging that the individual who lodged the complaint, or a representative acting on his behalf, had not appeared before the police.
According to the company, it wrote to the police on September 14, 2026, requesting clarification about the complaint that allegedly led to the invasion of its premises.
It said the police responded to the letter on September 17, 2026, and formally invited its representatives.
“Since then, we have appeared before the police six times,” the statement said.
Despite the repeated appearances, the company alleged that it had not been informed of the reasons for the invasion of its premises. It further claimed that its staff member, Zainab Salihu Yabagi, had been declared wanted and subjected to harassment.
The court documents also refer to alleged invasions of Yabagi’s residence in Unguwan Dosa, Kaduna, on September 11 and October 19, 2026.
The applicants contend that the alleged actions of the respondents violated several provisions of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, including those protecting the dignity of the human person, personal liberty, freedom of movement and the right to seek judicial remedies for the enforcement of fundamental rights.
They are also relying on provisions of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights in asking the court to intervene.
Among the reliefs sought is an order declaring that the alleged invasion of their homes and offices amounted to a violation of their constitutional right to privacy.
They are equally asking the court to declare that the alleged attempts to arrest and detain them violated their right to personal dignity and other constitutionally protected rights.
The applicants further want the court to restrain the respondents from carrying out any further unlawful arrests, detentions or entries into their premises, including actions directed at their family members.
Despite the commencement of legal proceedings, JKD Multimedia insisted that it remained willing to resolve the dispute through dialogue, provided such efforts were conducted within the framework of the law and mutual respect.
“We are available for professional, legal, respectful and reasonable resolution of any issue Alh. Ibrahim Masari has with any of our broadcast under the general framework as outlined above,” the statement said.
The organisation added, “We still believe the doors of dialogue should not be closed.”
The suit now places before the Federal High Court allegations concerning the conduct of police officers, the protection of journalists and media organisations, and the extent to which law enforcement powers may be exercised without infringing constitutionally guaranteed fundamental rights.
The allegations contained in the suit and the organisation’s statement remain claims by the applicants, and the court is yet to determine the matter.