BREAKING: Police rebuff former Senate President’s manipulation in land grabbing case

Christopher Oji An attempt by a former Senate President to drag the Nigeria Police Force into land grabbing has failed after the arrest and detention of six persons, including an estate developer, in Lagos State.

The timely intervention of the Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun and the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Moshood Jimoh, however, led to the release of the developer and his workers who were arrested but later found to be innocent.

Trouble reportedly started when heavily armed policemen, raided Lekki on Monday and arrested the developer and his workers.

The suspects were subsequently transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, Yaba, where they were detained till Thursday.

Investigations, however, revealed that the arrest of the developer was orchestrated by a former Senate President, despite the fact that the police at Zone 2 had in 2024 refused to be dragged into land grabbing over the same matter.

It all started in 2024 when the company linked to the former Senate President petitioned the Inspector-General of Police about a parcel of land in Lekki, accusing a retired medical doctor of wrongdoing.

The IGP directed the then Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 2 to ensure a proper investigation of the petition.

A police source at Zone 2, who spoke on the condition of anonymity told newsmen that, “The matter was thoroughly investigated and the company could not justify its claim of the ownership of the land.

“The retired medical doctor, who had relocated abroad came to Nigeria twice for investigation and the company could not provide the person who allegedly sold the land to them.”

After a thorough investigation, the police at Zone 2 could not establish any criminal wrongdoing against the retired medical doctor and advised the company to go to court.

In a report signed by Bawa Saidu, Assistant Commissioner of Police at Zone 2, the police said, “In view of the above findings, it is recommended that this is civil in nature based on the fact that the case is already in court, where parties are expected to maintain the status quo.”

Ruling is to be delivered in April. But the former Senate President approached the police again recently, leading to the arrest of six persons.

Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Jimoh, stated that the suspects were released when it was discovered that the matter had already been investigated at Zone 2.

He also ordered the immediate withdrawal of policemen who were station on the disputed land.

He stated that the policemen acted on a petition submitted to the police force.