A Lagos community leader, Chief Busari Abatan Adeleye, the Baale of Adeleye Opeki Community in Abesan, Ipaja, has filed a ₦50 million fundamental rights enforcement suit against the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, and the Commissioner of Police, Force Intelligence Department (FID), Lagos Annex, Akanniyene Ezima, over alleged harassment, intimidation, and unlawful arrest.
Chief Adeleye, alongside his relatives, Taiwo Adeleye and Akinola Akeem Adeleye, instituted the action at the Lagos State High Court, Ikeja. Egonte Chukwuma Onyema was joined as the third respondent in the suit.
The applicants are asking the court to declare their arrest and detention between September 15 and 16—allegedly instigated by Onyema—as a gross violation of their fundamental rights to liberty, dignity, and property guaranteed under Sections 35, 36, and 44 of the 1999 Constitution.
They also urged the court to hold that their arrest over allegations of trespass, wrongful execution of judgment, and malicious damage was unconstitutional, and that the police acted beyond their powers by interfering in what they claim is a civil land dispute.
In addition to restraining orders against further arrests or harassment, the applicants are seeking ₦50 million in general damages and ₦5 million in aggravated damages from the respondents.
In a 31-paragraph affidavit, Taiwo Adeleye stated that his family are the customary owners of Opeki Village land in Abesan, Lagos, a claim reaffirmed by a Lagos State High Court judgment delivered on July 7, 2022, by Justice O.A. Taiwo in Suit No: ID/1495/2010 – Alhaji Sule Ajibade & Ors v. Hajia Rauf Ajala & Ors.
He alleged that despite being aware of the judgment, Onyema has repeatedly instigated police interference with their rights in a bid to forcefully re-enter the disputed land.
The affidavit further revealed that the dispute dates back to a civil case involving the applicants and Onyema’s late father, Andrew Egonte. According to them, court summons and hearing notices were served as far back as 2011, but no defence was filed, leading to judgment in their favour.
So far, the respondents—the IGP, CP Ezima, and Onyema—have not filed any defence, and no hearing date has been fixed.