By Our Correspondent
Professor Allen Abiola, Commissioner of Police in the Supernumerary Police Unit of the Nigeria Police Force, has instituted a libel suit against Sahara Reporters over a publication titled “Nigeria Police ‘Spy Unit’ Officers Accuse Commissioner Allen Abiola Of ₦25Million ‘Dinner Project’ Fraud”.
In a statement, Prof. Abiola’s legal team, Goldrush Partners, described the allegations as “malicious, entirely false, and designed to tarnish Prof. Abiola’s impeccable reputation”. The publication, which appeared on Sahara Reporters’ online platform and social media channels on December 15, 2025, falsely accused Prof. Abiola of mismanaging ₦25 million under a non-existent “Dinner Project”.
The statement noted that Sahara Reporters published the allegations without verifying them or allowing Prof. Abiola an opportunity to respond, breaching journalistic ethics. As stated in the press release, “Efforts to obtain his comments were perfunctory and unsuccessful, breaching basic journalistic ethics under the Nigerian Press Council Act and the Code of Ethics for Nigerian Journalists.”
One of the individuals allegedly involved, Nicolas Enubuzor, has denied any involvement in the petition, calling the claims “fabricated”. According to Prof. Abiola’s legal team, “The petition does not bear his name, signature, handwriting, or endorsement, and was not issued on his instruction or authority.”
The statement further emphasized that the publication has caused “irreparable harm to Prof. Abiola’s sterling reputation, eroded public confidence in his leadership, and subjected him to unwarranted scrutiny within the Nigeria Police Force and beyond.”
Prof. Abiola is seeking a retraction, apology, and ₦500 million in damages. His lawyer stated, “The dissemination of these falsehoods constitutes libel per se, as they impute criminal offences and professional misconduct, tending to lower Prof. Abiola in the estimation of right-thinking members of society.”
The case has been initiated at the Lagos State High Court.
