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The Rivers State Police Command has debunked a viral video alleging that the Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga Adepoju, grabbed or facilitated the grabbing of land belonging to residents of Victory Estate, Rumuosi Community in Obio/Akpor LGA of the state.
In a statement signed by Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Blessing Agabe, the command described the allegation as false and misleading.
“The attention of the Rivers State Police Command has been drawn to a social media video alleging that the Commissioner of Police grabbed or facilitated the grabbing of land belonging to residents of Victory Estate, Rumuosi Community, Obio/Akpor LGA.
“The command categorically dismisses the allegation as false and misleading and wishes to set the record straight by providing the accurate facts and clarifying the circumstances surrounding the matter,” the statement reads in part.
The command said the matter started on March 6, 2025, when the CP received an application from O. S. Obior, Esq., on behalf of Kirigust Global Resources Nig. Ltd.
According to the command, the lawyer was “requesting police protection for a court bailiff to execute a judgment in Suit No. CCC/22/2015 – Col. Ogwumerum Eke & Anor. v. Chief Friday Ibeabuchi Anya & Ors.”
The application, the command said, was referred to the Department of Operations and subsequently to the Police Legal Section for verification, and the Customary Court, Choba, confirmed on March 21, 2025, that “the judgment was valid and that there was no pending appeal or stay of execution.”
“Based on the legal advice received, police personnel were deployed on 7 and 8 April 2025 solely to provide security for the court bailiff. The Command expressly directed that the officers were not to participate physically in the execution,” the statement noted.
The command explained that during the execution, residents objected, stating that “while they did not dispute the validity of the judgment, the judgment related to land in Rumuagholu Community and did not cover their property in Victory Estate, Rumuosi.”
It said CP Adepoju “immediately halted the execution and directed the Police Legal Section to investigate the conflicting claims.”
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As part of the investigation, the command said it obtained the Certified True Copy of the judgment and the dispute survey/site plan from the Customary Court, Choba, and forwarded the documents to the Surveyor-General of Rivers State for charting.
“The Surveyor-General subsequently confirmed that the area covered by the survey/site plan was within Rumuagholu Community and did not cover Victory Estate, Rumuosi Community,” the command stated.
It added that the investigation established that although the judgment in Suit No. CCC/22/2015 was valid, “it did not extend to Victory Estate, Rumuosi. Consequently, the execution of the judgment on the said property was considered wrongful.”
The command said the investigation further disclosed alleged criminal offences arising from the wrongful execution and that persons including “Col. Ogwumerum Eke, Chief Mike Oyakire, Prince Chima Kelechi and Samuel Chike, among others, were recommended for prosecution.”
It disclosed that a nine-count charge, No. PHC/3683/CR/2025, has subsequently been filed before the High Court of Rivers State against Col. Ogwumerum Eke and others.
“The command therefore wishes to make it clear that CP Olugbenga Adepoju neither grabbed, acquired nor took possession of any land belonging to Victory Estate, Rumuosi Community. His involvement was limited to granting police protection to a court bailiff after the judgment had been duly verified,” the statement stressed.
The police also noted that Suit No. PHC/1467/FHR/2026 instituted by Col. Ogwumerum Eke and three others against the Nigeria Police Force is currently before the court.
The command warned that “all police officers in Rivers State have been warned not to go to any land to guard, enforce or execute any land-related matter without proper authorisation and legal backing as land matters are regarded civil and aggressived parties should seek redress in court.”
It urged members of the public to report any officer found engaging in unauthorised land-related activities to the nearest police station or its Complaint Response Unit.
