NIGERIA POLICE SHOULD STOP GETTING INVOLVED IN LAND MATTERS - BAYO AKINLADE

Former Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association, Ikorodu Branch, Lagos State, Bayo Akinlade, has questioned the interest of the Nigeria Police Force in a land dispute that is already a subject of a court case. Akinlade, who is presently with Duty Solicitors Network, alleged in a statement that police officers from the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) Alagbon, were used by some persons to arrest about sixteen workmen at the land in question, which he said belongs to a church. Following the development, Akinlade has addressed a formal complaint to the Assistant Inspector General in charge of FCID Annex, Alagbon, AIG A.I.G. Margaret OCHALLA, expressing his grievances of his clients. In a copy of the addressed to AIG Ochalla, Akinalde referred the police chief to Suit No. LD/5321LM/2025 RICHARD DOSU ADELU & ORS VS MAKUACHUKWU CHUKWUJAMA & CHIEF JOHN OGUNYEMI over alleged assault of persons, damaged to property and use of force and self-help in attempted illegal take over of property at No.12 Oye Street. He noted that as Solicitors to Richard D. Adelu, Eunice A. Adelu and Babatunde Aina of Celestial Church of Christ, Zion Parish, off Freedom Way, Itedo, Lekki, they wished to file a complain of the unlawful arrest and detention of sixteen members and workmen at the church property on Thursday, April 17, 2025. The lawyer said the action of the police was in disregard of the Order of Court* of 4th April, 2025, which was served on MR. MAKUACHUKWU CHUKWUJAMA & CHIEF JOHN OGUNYEMI and also delivered to the AIG in charge of FCID, Alagbon on 14th April, 2025 through Force Headquarters Annex, Kam Salem House. Bayo Akinlade reminded the AIG that his office had previously delivered court processes related to the matter to her office on on March 7, 2025 to show that the property in question was the subject matter of litigation by which his Clients had sought pre-emptive orders of injunction from the Court. Akinlade further recalled that Justice O.O. Ogunjobi of the High Court of Lagos State had in a ruling on Friday, April 4, 2025, granted his Clients 3 pre-emptive injunctions, among which was an order restraining MR. MAKUACHUKWU CHUKWUJAMA & CHIEF JOHN OGUNYEMI from trespassing, threatening or disturbing his Clients’ peaceful enjoyment of their property, either by themselves or through the use of third parties. However, the lawyer noted that the 1st Respondent illegally attempted to circumvent the Court Order by further complaining to police through a third party (Elegushi family) through whom he claims title. "This was in disobedience of the Order of Court since the Order restrains the Respondents, by themselves, agents or other persons acting on their behalf." He maintained that a complaint to the Police by the Elegushi family for the benefit of their purported purchaser, MAKUACHUKWU CHUKWUJAMA, was an act done on behalf of the 1st Respondent, and therefore in clear breach of the Order of Court. Consequently, Bayo Akinlade maintained that the arrest of the sixteen men from his Client’s property and the seizing of artisan and work implements was unlawful, in contempt of Court and lacking in jurisdiction. Akinlade further noted that the petition lodged by one Mr. Adedeji of the Elegushi family at the instance of the 1st Respondent amounted to giving false information to the Police. "The Petitioner alleged that our Clients brought armed men to work on their own land within their own fenced compound in disobedience of a Court order which he claimed restrained all parties from working on the land. This was false. None of the 16 persons arrested was armed and upon enquiry by the Solicitor who attended FCID Alagbon to represent the men, no Court order was presented by the Police. Until such Court order is produced, it will appear that the Police invaded our Clients’ property to arrest members and workmen on the basis of unverified and false information given to the police." He said following the unlawful arrests of members and workmen on 17th April, 2025 and seizing of their artisan tools, Church Chairman, Mr. Babatunde Aina, was served with a letter of invitation to attend a fact finding investigation scheduled for Tuesday 22nd April, 2025 at 10.00 hrs. "We are of the humble view that to continue to investigate a matter which is the subject matter of on-going litigation undermines the jurisdiction of the court at the risk of contempt proceedings ensuing." Instead, he said that any aggrieved party was at liberty to join issues with his Clients in Court, as the Court has assumed jurisdiction in the matter of peaceful enjoyment of our Clients' property, rather than engage in self-help either directly or indirectly through use of third parties, including law enforcement agents. Bayo Akinlade urged the police to stop taking petitions and complaint made to it at face value but must thoroughly investigate such claims by petitioners, as well as to stop arresting and detaining citizens in the interest of petitioners, without property investigation.