A businessman, Mr Olufemi Fasehun, has petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Kayode Egbetokun, over the alleged illegal sealing of his family property.
Fasehun told journalists on Friday that officers from the Zone 2 Police Command’s monitoring unit colluded with suspected landgrabbers to seize his property in Oregun, Ikeja, Lagos.
He stated that the harassment began shortly after his father, the original owner of the land, passed away.
According to Fasehun, armed police officers allegedly stormed the property without a court warrant on June 4, 5, and 20.
“The operations occurred without any court sheriff present, and no legal document was shown,” he said.
He added that all occupants were arrested, and the premises — including his home, a restaurant, and new 14-unit terraces — were sealed.
Fasehun said he was later informed that a contempt of court petition was filed against him by one of the landgrabbers.
“No legal process was served on me, and I received no police invitation. The officers acted solely on these individuals’ claims,” he said.
He recalled that a similar move in 2023 through FCID Alagbon failed, as investigations confirmed his legal ownership and dismissed the landgrabbers’ claims.
“Those same people have now allegedly secured support from Zone 2 to renew the harassment,” Fasehun said.
He noted that he had lived on the land for more than 60 years and described the police action as unlawful and oppressive.
“I was jailed over a property I legally own. The police now threaten to arraign me, just to appease the landgrabbers,” he said.
Fasehun disclosed that he had filed a fundamental rights suit against Zone 2 officers and the alleged landgrabbers.
He also confirmed sending a petition to the I-G, urging him to order his officers to vacate the property.
Mr Gbenga Eretan, Fasehun’s legal counsel, said FCID Alagbon had already concluded investigations into the land dispute.
“When the outcome didn’t favour the landgrabbers, they returned to Zone 2 to reopen the case, which is unlawful,” he said.
He cited Sections 31 and 32 of the Police Act 2020, which bar police from handling civil matters like tenancy disputes.
Eretan urged the I-G to investigate Zone 2’s conduct and ensure proper legal procedures are followed.
“This matter concerns not only property, but also public trust in the police and rule of law,” he stated.
He demanded investigation and accountability for all officers involved, warning that such conduct must not be allowed to persist.
Efforts to reach Zone 2 PRO, CSP Umma Ayuba, were unsuccessful, as calls and messages went unanswered at the time of reporting.
