Illegal Occupation: Businessman Sues IGP For N10m

An aggrieved Lagos businessman, Reverend Israel Olorunwumi, whose landed property was compulsorily acquired by the Area ‘K’ Lagos Police Command without authority or order of the court rather than the property being close to the station has sued the Inspector General of Police for N10 million.

Also joined as co-respondents in the suit are the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, the Area Commander of the newly created Area ‘K’ Lagos Police Command and the Attorney General of the Federation.

Reverend Olorunwumi, in his averment filed before a federal high court in Lagos, alleged that between 15 November, 2010 and February, 2011, he acquired six plots of land legitimately from the Ilogbo Eremi Community located at Odan-Ilu in Badagry Local Government of Lagos State, southwest Nigeria, and was thereon put into possession of the land and has continued to exercise various acts of possession on the land by constructing building and setting up a block making factory as well as constructing a car wash on a portion of the land.

The applicant averred further that he continue his operation on the land until Area Commander of Area ‘K’ police station complained that his property is a security risk and that he cannot be allowed to continue his business near the police station consequently, the Area Commander ordered his men to break down his doors and compulsorily acquire his property.

The police broke down his fence and mounted gate to prevent any access to the property and they have taken over the entire land by chasing away his staff and have taken over the land by inscribing these words at the entrance of his property ‘Area K Anti-Robbery section, Ilogbo Eremi.

The men of the police command have also moved into the property and started operations in the building while all materials like iron rods, blocks, sand and the engine used at the car wash by the applicant have been confiscated by the Area Commander.

The applicant also alleged that when he complained to the area commander about the invasion of his property, the area commander ordered him to approach the land owners for another land as the Nigeria Police Force has acquired his land.

The applicant contended that his business has been disrupted and he has continued to suffer great loss of income and business as a result of the illegal invasion by the respondents.

Consequently, the applicant while claiming N10 million as damages for the breach of his fundamental human right to own property, urged the court to direct the respondents to vacate his property.