A retired civil engineer, Mr. Olufemi Faseun, has called on the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, to intervene in what he describes as “unlawful police actions” aiding land grabbers who have allegedly taken over his family property at No. 10, Kudirat Abiola Way, Ikeja, Lagos.
Mr. Faseun, who claims ownership of the property based on documents dating back to 1961 and duly registered with the old Western Region and at the Lands Registry in Alausa, accused officers from Zone 2 Police Command of acting outside the law by locking up his residence and business premises without any court warrant or eviction order.
Recounting the ordeal, Faseun said that on June 4 and 5, 2025, armed policemen stormed the property, sealed it off, and arrested occupants including tenants and staff of a restaurant operating on the premises. “They padlocked my house and locked up a restaurant being run by a tenant, disrupting businesses and livelihoods. The policemen acted without a warrant or court order and have failed to explain their actions,” he said.
The engineer further alleged that a known land agent, Mr. Tomori Williams, identified himself on video as a consultant to the family laying claim to the land. “This same individual has over 14 petitions against him at the Lagos State Task Force on Land Grabbers,” Faseun stated, demanding that law enforcement officers collaborating with such persons be investigated.
According to him, the matter, which had already been investigated by the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) Panti with suspects billed for arraignment, was suddenly re-routed to Zone 2 Command, which restarted the investigation. “This is suspicious, unlawful, and seems intended to frustrate justice,” he said.
Supporting the claim, legal practitioner Dr. Gbenga Eretan described the police action as “a clear violation of the Nigerian Constitution and Police Act.” He noted that the sealing of the property amounts to punishment without trial, which only a court of law is empowered to impose.
“The police have no legal backing to evict tenants or lock up private property in a civil dispute. Under the Tenancy Law of Lagos State and Section 32 of the Police Act 2020, the police are expressly prohibited from interfering in civil matters,” Dr. Eretan said.
He stressed that the police cannot act unilaterally in eviction matters or punish alleged offenders without due process, citing Sections 6 and 36 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which guarantee fair hearing and presume innocence until proven guilty.
The lawyer further faulted the alleged bypass of the Lagos State Ministry of Justice and the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), explaining that the law requires an investigation report to be submitted for legal advice before any prosecution.
“We are demanding that the AIG Zone 2 send the suspects back to SCID Panti for arraignment in line with the investigation report already concluded. The police officers involved in this abuse of power must also be investigated and sanctioned,” Eretan added.
Faseun appealed to the IGP to rein in erring officers and protect the integrity of the Force. “I am a law-abiding citizen. My documents are valid. The land grabbers have none. If the police continue to aid them, how can anyone invest in this country? This must stop. Justice must prevail.”
He also called on the Lagos State Government to ensure that the Task Force on Land Grabbers fulfills its mandate by acting decisively against known perpetrators rather than allowing repeated harassment of citizens.
As at press time, the premises remain sealed, with tenants and buyers of the residential units unable to access the property for over 40 days, resulting in business losses and displacement of lawful occupants.
The Police Force at Zone 2 have yet to release an official response to the allegations.
Reporting by Niran Odufayo