Lawyer petitions IGP over ‘illegal occupation’ of Lagos land by police officers

Lukman Imam, solicitor to Magodo Property Development Company, has petitioned Kayode Egbetokun, inspector-general of police (IGP), over the alleged illegal occupation of land by police officers in Lagos state.

In the petition dated November 14, 2025, Imam said his client bought the property on Adeola Odeku Street in Victoria Island from the federal government for N1 billion, but an individual is also laying claim to the land.

He said despite ongoing investigations by the police to resolve the tussle, some officers invaded the property and sealed it.

Imam said his client approached the court and secured an order for the property to be unsealed, yet the officers refused to leave the site.

The lawyer also accused Adetayo Akerele, chairman of the Lagos state task force, of blocking access to the property through police officers stationed at the site despite the court order.

He said his client has challenged the action in court, adding that the police had no authority to seal a private property over a civil land dispute.

“Our client purchased land at 24 Adeola Odeku Street, Victoria Island, Lagos state, from the federal government through the Presidential Implementation Committee for the sum of N1,015,000,000 (one billion fifteen million naira). Please find attached the evidence of purchase,” the lawyer wrote.

“Our client has always been in possession of the land until one Chief Asogbon came with thugs to forcefully dispossess our client.

“Alarmed by the illegal activities of Chief Asogbon, our client petitioned Zone 2, Lagos state, and both parties were told to present their titles.

“While the investigation was still ongoing at Zone 2, Chief Asogbon petitioned the IGP Monitoring Team, which came to seal the site. Our client approached the federal high court, Lagos division, and the court made an order to unseal the site. Please find attached the said court order.

“These people have engaged the services of the chairman of the Lagos state task force on land grabbers to invade the land, during which the police officers who went for that mission stole four CCTV cameras belonging to our client, demolished its property, and have since then stationed officers on the land against the clear directive of the inspector-general of police that no policeman should be used to take possession of land. The said chairman has continued with his lawlessness and illegality despite repeated entreaties.”

“We therefore humbly request that you use your good office to investigate this matter and allow justice to prevail.”

When TheCable reached out to Akerele, a chief superintendent of police, he said his public relations officer would send a statement on the issue. The press statement had not been received as of the time this report was published.