By Henry Ojelu

A Lagos-based lawyer, Charles Ugwuanyi, has urged the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) to call the Lagos State Commissioner of Police (CP) to order over what he described as the continued harassment of a Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) holder by the Lagos State Police Command in a land dispute at Peace Estate, Okota.

Ugwuanyi made the call yesterday after accompanying his client, Alhaji Jamiu Olonade, to honour a police invitation dated January 27, 2026.

He said the invitation was initially believed to be an opportunity for the police to address Olonade’s earlier arrest and detention, but it turned out otherwise.

According to the lawyer, Olonade was arrested by operatives of the Lagos State Task Force on Environmental Sanitation and other offences on January 15, 2026, while fencing his land at Idowu Rufai Street, Okota. He was detained from about 2pm that day until about 8pm on January 16.

Ugwuanyi said that instead of an apology, the police confronted them with a petition by the Peace Estate Residents Association alleging that Olonade destroyed a street gate and gatehouse belonging to the estate.

“I asked the officers if the petitioners provided any document to show that those structures were built on their land. They had none,” Ugwuanyi said.

He added that his client declined to make a statement under caution, insisting that due process must be followed.

 He warned the officers that any attempt to force a statement would be reported to the IGP as an effort by the Lagos State Police Command to undermine the authority of the Lagos State Government by questioning a valid C of O issued by the governor.

Ugwuanyi said the police later retreated and asked both parties to return, with a promise that the matter would be referred to the CP.

Olonade is the holder of a valid C of O over the disputed land, which Ugwuanyi said was duly verified by all relevant Lagos State agencies and certified as residential. He also obtained building approval, authorisation to commence development and other statutory permits before starting work on the land.

Despite these approvals, Ugwuanyi alleged that members of the Peace Estate Residents Association, allegedly acting with police cover, invaded the land, destroyed fences and construction materials worth millions of naira and erected their own structures.

The dispute is currently before the Lagos State High Court, Ikeja, following a suit filed by the residents on October 24, 2025. When the matter came up on January 13, 2026, Justice Obadina adjourned it to February 25, 2026 for further directions without issuing any injunctive order.

Ugwuanyi accused the residents of acting in contempt of court by continuing activities on the land while the case is pending. He said photographs taken on November 28, December 11 and December 26, 2025 showed attempts to create the impression that the land was a road before the matter was heard.

He stressed that it is the responsibility of government, not residents’ associations, to designate roads, adding that no individual or group has the authority to question a C of O and building approvals duly issued by the state.

Ugwuanyi warned that unless the IGP intervenes promptly, the matter would be escalated to the Senate Committee on Public Petitions, insisting that the Lagos CP must be called to order to uphold the rule of law.