LAGOS — A businessman, Mr. Olufemi Faseun, has appealed to the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and the Assistant Inspector General overseeing Zone 2, to urgently look into what he describes as the illegal sealing of his property located at 10 Kudirat Abiola Way, Oregun, Ikeja, Lagos.
During a press conference held on Tuesday, Faseun said armed police officers from Zone 2 Command arrived on June 4, 2025, and sealed off his residence, a restaurant operated by a tenant, and other finished buildings on the premises. He claimed no court order or eviction notice was presented at the time, and several staff and tenants were arrested.
“I’ve lived in that house for over 60 years. The police locked it without notice, sealed the restaurant, and arrested everyone present. Then they returned the next day,” he said. According to him, on June 20, he was told he was being charged with contempt of court for allegedly instructing his tenant to continue operating, even though there had been no official court process.
Faseun believes the police action was influenced by individuals aiming to unlawfully take over the land. “No sheriff, no bailiff—just armed men acting like enforcers for land grabbers. Our buildings have stayed empty for almost two years, and my tenant’s business has now been closed for over 40 days. More than 50 workers are out of jobs,” he lamented.
His lawyer, Dr. Gbenga Ereta, backed his claims, describing the act as a misuse of police authority and a violation of the Police Act and Nigeria’s Constitution. He argued that the Force Criminal Investigation Department (CID) at Alagbon had already concluded investigations and was set to proceed to court when the case was mysteriously reopened by officers at Zone 2.
Quoting Sections 31 and 32 of the Police Act 2020, Ereta stated that tenancy matters fall outside police jurisdiction and cannot be enforced without a valid court order. He stressed that any eviction or sealing of property without following due legal procedures breaches both the Lagos State Tenancy Law of 2011 and Section 6 of the Constitution, which reserves punishment solely for the courts.
He called on the police leadership to intervene immediately to restore confidence in the justice system and protect citizens from unlawful actions. “This case is no longer just about one family’s property—it’s about upholding the rule of law in Nigeria,” Ereta concluded.
Attempts to get a response from the Public Relations Officer of Zone 2 Police Command were unsuccessful, as calls and messages to her line went unanswered as of the time of filing this report.
