By Willie Samson

LAGOS—The High Court of Lagos State, Epe Judicial Division, has awarded N5 million in damages for the violation of the fundamental rights of two residents and reaffirmed that the Nigeria Police Force has no authority to intervene in purely civil disputes.

In a judgment delivered on June 18, 2026, Justice W. Animahun ruled in favour of Dr. Eniola Oladejo Awolola and six other applicants in a fundamental rights enforcement suit against the Nigeria Police Force, the Inspector-General of Police and other respondents.

The applicants alleged that police officers unlawfully invited, harassed, intimidated, arrested and detained them over a dispute involving the Lekki Gardens Phase 2 Residents Association in Ajah, Lagos.
Justice Animahun held that the matter related to estate governance and residents’ affairs and did not disclose any criminal offence that would warrant police intervention.

The court ruled that the invitation, harassment, intimidation, arrest and detention of the applicants violated their constitutional rights, stressing that law enforcement agencies cannot be used to enforce or resolve civil disputes, especially where such matters have already been decided by a competent court and are subject to appeal.

Consequently, the court granted a perpetual injunction restraining the police from further inviting, arresting, harassing, intimidating or detaining the applicants over the dispute.

The court awarded N5 million damages to the first and fourth applicants for the infringement of their rights, with the sum to be paid jointly by the sixth to eighth respondents — Mr. Aire E. Bruno, Mrs. Omolara Bolaji and Dr. Julius Uthomin.

Justice Animahun also awarded N500,000 in costs to the applicants.

The judge further noted that while residents are free to choose whether or not to belong to an association, they cannot reject obligations associated with membership while insisting on enjoying its benefits.