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By Christopher Oji
Residents and business owners around Clay Bus Stop, Kudirat Abiola Way, Oregun, Ikeja, Lagos, State have called on the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to call the police at Zone 2, Onikan, to order after they allegedly locked up their homes and business premises.
Angry residents and business owners accused the police of aiding a notorious land-grabber to lock up their premises for more than a month without any notice from the court.
According to the residents, the action of the policemen was not only in defiance to the order of the Inspector General of Police but also in disregard to the laws of Lagos State.
They also insisted that homeowners were prevented from gaining access to their homes and businesses were locked up without any prior notice from any court of valid jurisdiction.
Spokesperson for the affected house owners, a retiree, Engr. Olufemi Fasehun, said the land in question was lawfully acquired by his father in 1961 and remains duly registered with the Lagos State land registry in Alausa
He stated that: “This property is not only our home but also our legacy. We have been here for over 60 years. But since my father died in 2004, land-grabbers have been threatening us.
“Now, with the alleged backing of some rogue police officers, the harassment has intensified.”
He identified one Mr. Tomori as a known land-grabber claiming to act as a consultant for unnamed Omo Onile (local landowners), allegedly leading multiple invasions on the premises.
The resident narrated that, “On June 4, 2025, police officers locked up the family residence, a restaurant run by a tenant (Paradox), and adjoining buildings under occupation.”
He stressed that no valid court order or warrant was presented: “They arrested everyone and returned twice, on June 5 and again on June 20.
“I was shocked to later learn that I was being charged to court for contempt. Contempt for living in my own home?”
He accused the Monitoring Unit of the Zone 2 Police Command of single-handedly usurping the position of the court bailiffs to lock up the buildings and businesses.
The visibly angry resident said, “They stormed the property like armed robbers; no papers, no documentation. This is not policing; it is a disgrace.
“We have provided our title documents. The opposing party is relying on vague customary claims. It’s now a banana republic where guns decide property rights.”
A lawyer, Dr. Gbenga Eretan, criticized the police’s conduct, describing it as “unlawful, unprofessional and unconstitutional.”
He said, “This matter had already been investigated and concluded by Force CID, Alagbon. Rather than proceed for arraignment, they reverted to Zone 2 to reopen investigations, which is improper.”
He cited Section 31 of the Police Act, 2020, which mandates that completed investigation reports must be forwarded to the Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP) for advice.
The police, he said, have no power to take citizens to court unilaterally, “yet, here they are preparing charges in their offices and proceeding to court without DPP’s input.”
Eretan also condemned the eviction of Paradox restaurant’s owner as unlawful. “This is a tenancy matter governed by the Lagos State Tenancy Law. The police have no role evicting tenants. Section 32 of the Police Act forbids intervention in civil matters,” he said.
The lawyer called for an immediate directive from the DIG in charge of Criminal Investigations Department to the AIG, Zone 2, to return the case file to Alagbon and ensure all erring officers face disciplinary action.
“We are not slaves. Citizens must be protected from institutional abuse,” he said.
Meanwhile, the spokesperson for Zone 2, CSP Umma Ayuba, claimed not to be aware of the exercise and promised to find out and get back to our correspondent but could not do so at the time of filing this report.
