LAGOS — A Lagos-based lawyer, Charles Ugwuanyi, has called on the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) to caution the Lagos State Commissioner of Police (CP) over what he described as the continued harassment of a legitimate Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) holder in an ongoing land dispute at Peace Estate, Okota, Lagos.
Ugwuanyi made the appeal yesterday after accompanying his client, Alhaji Jamiu Olonade, to honour a police invitation related to the matter.
According to him, the invitation — believed to be for clarifying his client’s earlier arrest and detention — took a surprising turn when the police presented a petition filed by the Peace Estate Residents Association, accusing Olonade of destroying a street gate and gatehouse allegedly belonging to the estate.
“I asked the officers if the petitioners provided any document proving ownership of those structures. They had none,” Ugwuanyi stated.
He explained that Olonade was first arrested on January 15, 2026, by operatives of the Lagos State Task Force on Environmental Sanitation while fencing his land on Idowu Rufai Street, Okota, and was detained from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. that day.
Ugwuanyi said his client, who holds a valid C of O issued by the Lagos State Government, declined to make a statement under caution during questioning, insisting that due process must be followed.
“We warned that any attempt to force a statement would be reported to the IGP as an act undermining the authority of the Lagos State Government, since the property in question has a valid C of O issued by the governor,” he added.
He noted that the police eventually backed down and promised to refer the matter to the Commissioner of Police for review.
According to Ugwuanyi, Olonade’s ownership documents, including building approval, development permits and verification from relevant state agencies, confirmed the land as residential.
Despite this, he alleged that members of the Peace Estate Residents Association, allegedly with police backing, invaded the land, destroyed fencing materials worth millions of naira, and began erecting their own structures.
The dispute is currently before the Lagos State High Court, Ikeja, following a suit filed by the residents on October 24, 2025. When the case came up on January 13, 2026, Justice Obadina adjourned it to February 25, 2026, for further hearing — without granting any injunctive order.
Ugwuanyi accused the residents of acting in contempt of court by continuing construction on the disputed land, saying photographs dated November 28, December 11, and December 26, 2025, show attempts to falsely present the property as a public road.
He urged the IGP to intervene to ensure respect for the rule of law and prevent further police interference in what remains a civil land dispute pending before the court.
