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In defiance of a court order prohibiting police intimidation and harassment, officers from the Lagos Police Force raided a disputed property, seizing a generator and building materials.
Reportedly, certain police personnel in Lagos State, Southwest Nigeria, reportedly invaded a property in Ikate Elegushi, displacing workers and taking essential equipment, despite a court ruling that prohibits the police or any security agencies from intervening on the property.
Among the items purportedly taken by the police from Mr. Frank Okafor’s property were a generator, 17 bags of cement, and various construction materials. This event is the most recent development in an ongoing land dispute that is presently awaiting resolution at the Supreme Court.
The Lagos High Court judgement on Wednesday was delivered by Justice Ganiyu Ali Safari of the Lagos State High Court on June 1, 2023.
The court in the case which had Bela Vista Property and Development Co. Limited, Inspector General of Police, and Lagos State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice as the Respondents, barred the police and all the Respondents from interfering or making arrests regarding the land issue.
The judge ruled that “constant arrest, harassment, coercion, embarrassment, persistent threat to arrest, detain, prosecute, embarrass the applicants by the different departments of the Police Force for no just cause is illegal, unconstitutional and a breach of the fundamental rights of the applicants as guaranteed by the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”.
The judge declared that the “harassment, intimidation, and attempt to coerce and blackmail the applicants to surrender their family property situated at Ikate Elegushi is illegal, unconstitutional, and a breach of fundamental rights”.
But despite the pending court order, one Inspector Waziri of Gbagada Police Division (former SARS office) allegedly led a team of policemen to the site on March 1, 2024, invaded the property situated at Ikate Elegushi and arrested two engineers working on the site identified as Festus, Ben and two others.
Tension escalated on March 6, 2024, when policemen who claimed to be from Force Headquarters, Abuja stormed the property again, forcing Okafor to stop construction work despite the court order. They sealed the property, one of the workers told SaharaReporters.
The worker who spoke on condition of anonymity said, “Police invaded the property situated at Ikate Elegushi and arrested two engineers working on the site, Festus and Ben by name and two others.
“They were released on Saturday, March 2, when legal representation went there. They told them to come back on Tuesday, March 5. They said Lawyer Omotayo should bring the owner of the property Frank Okafor. He was granted bail and Bella Vista the other party in dispute was not present and no representative was present.
“After Mr. Frank was granted bail on the 6th of March, IPO Waziri called Lawyer Omotayo that Mr. Frank should stop work on his property.
“She told IPO Waziri that the police can’t give an injunction and there is an injunction from a court of competent jurisdiction against the police and Bella Vista not to trouble Mr. Frank."
He added, “IPO Waziri also called Mr. Frank on the same March 6 that his boss, OC Ubah said they should stop work on the site.
“IPO Waziri went there on Thursday, March 6 to harass and disrupt work, only for Waziri to lead a detachment of 20 policemen to the site, all armed to the teeth. They drove workers out of site, carted away generator, bags of cement, and 2 submersible pumps – 17 bags of cement."
Confirming the development, Barrister Omotayo, the counsel for Mr Okafor, told SaharaReporters that the police in Lagos State have become a law unto themselves and now choose when to obey and not to obey valid court orders.
She said that “despite the pendency of the court barring police interfering in the property and having duly served the Lagos State Police Command the court judgement, some operatives still invaded the property on March 18, chased owner of the property and workers out”.
"They brought artisans and carpenters and sealed up the property with Zinc roofing after loading building materials and equipment carted away from the property,” she added.
She said that Bela Vista Property and Development Co. Limited had taken her client to all police formations and units in an attempt to take his property, which with a two-story building waiting to be roofed.
She said, "They have taken my client to so many units of police and departments and the court judgement restricted them. Meanwhile, the company has gone to the Supreme Court, they should wait for the outcome of their appeal. We have not committed any offence. Police cannot do anything about the land and that is the essence of the judgement.
"Police have no right to determine ownership of land and also cannot set scores. And my client has been there and he has built up the place, a storey building and he is about to roof the building when the police invaded. When we got to the property today the policemen said that one Mogaji placed them there."
Omotayo noted that when she met the police commissioner, Lagos State, Adegoke Mustapha Fayoade, he categorically told them that the command didn’t detail any policeman to the property and hadn’t received a report that policemen from Force Headquarters were deployed to the property.
When contacted, the Divisional Police Officer of Ilasan Division, SP Ogunrin regarding the alleged invasion, he denied sending policemen to the property.
"I didn’t detail any policeman or policemen to the property. My men are not involved because I am aware of the court judgement," he said.
Also, ASP Mahmud Waziri of the Anti-Cultism Unit, whose men allegedly carried out the invasion, denied authorising anyone to go to the property.
"I am not involved and I didn’t direct any police personnel to invade the property let alone cart away equipment and building materials," he said.
The Lagos State Government has said it would soon arrange a meeting with developers/owners of distressed buildings on how best to address the redesign and remodelling of such structures by November.
This was disclosed recently by the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Oluyinka Olumide, at a function in Alahusa, Lagos.
Olumide said the prevalence of distressed buildings in different parts of the state was worrisome and needed the urgent attention of all stakeholders.
He said, “The Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development as mandated by the Lagos State Urban and Regional Planning and Development Law, 2019, as amended, was willing to extend its responsibility for approving the remodelling of existing buildings to provide technical assistance to developers and owners of distressed buildings, especially on the design and remodelling of such buildings.
The Federal Government has instructed the contractors responsible for the 107km Enugu-Onitsha road dualization to expedite the project.
This directive was given by the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, during a meeting with MTN, the Enugu State Government, and the contractors, RCC Ltd and Nigercat Ltd, on Friday.
According to a statement released on Friday, the minister said he is disappointed over the slow pace of work on the project, he said, “Let me express my disappointment over the slow pace of work on that project. It is one of the worst roads in this country.
“Everywhere we have diversion; diverting from the one that RCC and Nigercat had completed, the contractors are not kind enough to even put stone based on the diversion points.”
He added, “So, by the reason of the launching of our Operation Free our Roads, it is now a violation of the policy on the side of the controllers and directors of the Federal Ministry of Works where we have vehicles falling on any project that is ongoing or where there are potholes on our roads.”
He also blamed the sufferings of road users on the lack of commitment and insensitivity of the contractors.
“The public must know that the President’s intention is not for them to suffer while trying to fix the roads, and it is their right to insist that contractors should fix the roads that they are engaged on,” he said.
The Minister commended the Enugu state government for their resolve to fund the construction of a 20 KM section of the road and expressed hope that MTN would execute the second phase of the project.
He noted, “Why the Enugu State government is intervening is because of the slow pace of work by the contractors and because of funding issues. The essence of tax credit is for funds to be made available. And so, I don’t see RCC going to keep their promise to finish this project in 6 months.
“My advice to MTN is to look for another contractor within that axis if they want to get the job done. Division of labour is even the best. While they are doing the road, and if Nigercat is doing a good job, you can give them greater scope to do if you want to finish that job.”
He warned contractors that the Federal Government would not accept phased handovers of projects and has phased out Variation of Price in contract administration.
The Ekiti State government has intervened to resolve a longstanding land dispute between the Elepe of Epe-Ekiti, Oba Ayodele Adesoye, and the Atolagbe family. The government cautioned against the misuse of modernization as an excuse to disregard traditional customs.
In line with the community’s traditions, the government has ordered the release of resources, including palm trees at Oko Oba Farmland, to Oba Adesoye for his administration. This decision ensures the continued adherence to age-old practices.
Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye, announced the resolution in Ado-Ekiti. The decision was made after considering the Elepe’s claim to Oko Oba Farmland based on historical evidence.
Mrs. Afuye acknowledged the Elepe’s right to be the custodian of Oko Oba Farmland, citing longstanding traditions that support his claim. The decision reflects the importance of respecting historical practices and ensuring their preservation.
The deputy governor, however, told the monarch in clear terms that other princes and princesses from all the three ruling houses should be allowed to farm on the land without payment of royalty.
Mrs Afuye appealed to the community to comply with the government’s position to restore unity, peace and orderliness to the beleaguered community.
Oba Adesoye expressed gratitude for the government’s decision and pledged to foster peace and unity between the throne and the community, aiming to accelerate Epe’s development.
Representing the Atolagbe family, Dr. Yemi Agbeleoba acknowledged their willingness to cede Oko Oba Farmland to the monarch. However, he emphasized the need for all three ruling houses to participate for a lasting and traditional solution.
Agbeleoba expressed appreciation for the government’s directive, believing it will contribute to resolving the long-standing conflict.
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