Lagos property owner petitions IGP over alleged police invasion, misconduct
A Lagos-based property owner, Mr Olufemi Fasehun, has submitted a formal petition to the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, alleging serious misconduct and abuse of power by officers of the Nigeria Police Force attached to the Monitoring Unit of Zone 2 Command, Onikan, Lagos.
The petition, dated 2 July 2025 and addressed to the Complaint Response Unit, CRU, of the Force Headquarters in Abuja, was filed by Fasehun’s legal counsel, Goldrush Partners. He accused a senior officer and his team of unlawfully invading his property located at No. 10 Kudirat Abiola Way, Oregun, Lagos, on three separate occasions, on June 4, 5, and 20, 2025.
According to the petition, the officers allegedly committed multiple infractions, including criminal trespass, arbitrary arrest, illegal closure of a commercial property (Paradox Restaurant), and blatant disregard for legal procedure, all under the pretext of enforcing an interlocutory court order.
“Our client is the legitimate owner of the said property, backed by a registered deed of indenture, an approved survey plan, and a valid judgment from a competent court,” the petition read. “Despite this, the officers in question arrested our client and a tenant, sealed off the premises, and subjected them to degrading and unlawful treatment.”
Fasehun’s legal representatives stated that the police team claimed to be acting on the basis of an interlocutory order issued in Suit No. ID/11239LMW/2021 (Olufemi Fasehun v. Cletus Nwagwu & Others), which merely instructed all parties to maintain the status quo.
The petition asserts that Fasehun had complied with the court’s directive and had filed an affidavit affirming his adherence. Nevertheless, the officers allegedly chose to bypass lawful contempt proceedings, typically initiated through Form 48 and Form 49, and instead took unilateral and coercive action against him.
Goldrush Partners further alleged that the officers sealed off the property and the adjoining restaurant business without any legal order authorising such enforcement, describing the action as both arbitrary and unlawful.
Included in the petition is the claim that the complainants backing the police action presented a forged document, purportedly a “Supreme Court judgment,” in a bid to legitimise their position.
It was also stated that the officer in charge allegedly threatened to arraign Fasehun in court on July 1, 2025, despite the fact that the matter remains pending before Justice Oshoala at the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja.
“These actions have inflicted not only financial hardship and psychological distress on our client but have also severely eroded public confidence in the Nigerian justice system,” the petition concludes.
Fasehun’s legal team has called on the Inspector General of Police to initiate a thorough investigation into the alleged misconduct and to ensure the protection of their client’s constitutional rights.
As of the time of filing this report, efforts to obtain a response from the Zone 2 Command were unsuccessful.
Lagos property owner petitions IGP over alleged police invasion, misconduct
