A Lagos-based legal practitioner, Kabir Akingbolu, has instituted a suit before the Federal High Court, Lagos, seeking, among other reliefs, an order compelling top security chiefs in Nigeria to resign over what he described as persistent failure to curb insecurity across the country.

In the suit marked FHC/LAG/CS/986/2026 and filed at the Ikoyi Division of the court, Akingbolu listed as defendants the Inspector General of Police, Director-General of the Department of State Services, National Security Adviser, Chief of Defence Staff, Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Air Staff, Chief of Naval Staff, Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service, and the Commandant-General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.

The plaintiff, through an originating summons, is asking the court to determine whether the continued incidents of terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other violent crimes across the federation amount to a failure by the defendants to discharge their constitutional and statutory responsibilities.

He further urged the court to decide whether the security chiefs, as public officers charged with protecting lives and property, should be held accountable for alleged acts of omission, negligence and ineffective performance of their duties.

Akingbolu anchored his claims on provisions of Section 14(2)(b) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which declares that the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government, as well as relevant sections of the Police Act 2020, Armed Forces Act, National Security Agencies Act, Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023, Immigration Act 2015 and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps Act.

Among the reliefs sought, the plaintiff is asking for declarations that the persistent insecurity across the country constitutes a breach of constitutional obligations by the defendants and that they are duty-bound to take all lawful measures to protect citizens.

He also sought an order directing the defendants to resign from their respective offices over what he termed “abysmal failure” to discharge their duties.

In the alternative, Akingbolu is requesting the court to mandate the defendants to review and strengthen existing security strategies and enhance inter-agency collaboration to effectively tackle insecurity nationwide.

In an affidavit of urgency filed in support of the suit, the plaintiff argued that the matter requires accelerated hearing in view of the prevailing security challenges in the country.

He maintained that it would be in the interest of justice to abridge the time within which the defendants must respond, noting that the issues raised are of national importance affecting the safety of citizens.

Justice Osiagor has therefore fixed July 6, 2026 for hearing of the suit.