The Federal High Court of Nigeria, Lagos Division, has issued a restraining order against the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation and Special Offences Unit (Task Force) and its head, CSP Shola Jejeloye, preventing them from taking control of a landed property owned by businessman Olasheni Adeyinka, popularly known as Abu Abel.
In suit number FHC/CS/80/2023, Justice F. N. Ogazi of the court also prohibited the police from taking any action regarding the property, which consists of 12 plots of land located at Silicon Estate, Idado, Ologolo, Agungi Town, in the Eti-Osa Local Government Area of the state.
Adeyinka, Obimzy Property (Abu Abel), and Development, along with four others, were listed as applicants in the suit. The respondents in the suit included the Task Force, the Chief of Staff to Lagos State Governor, Tayo Ayinde, the Inspector General of Police, Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, and four others.
In the ex parte motion filed on January 17, 2024, the court granted an interim order restraining the respondents “whether by themselves or their agents, from arresting, detaining, harassing, or taking untoward action against the applicants in connection with the facts of the case pending the hearing and determination of the originating motion, pending the final determination of this suit.”
READ ALSO: Court jails 15 internet fraudsters in Ibadan
Reacting to the development, Adeyinka’s lawyer, Barrister Yakub Eleto, stated that his client had purchased the land nine years ago from the Ojomu Family of Ajiran in Eti-Osa. Eleto explained that Adeyinka had obtained Governor’s Consent for the land, among other documents.
However, when Adeyinka attempted to commence construction on the land last year, he was arrested by certain individuals. Upon his release, he discovered that others were occupying his land. When confronted, these individuals claimed that Tayo Ayinde, the Chief of Staff, had sent them. Ayinde later asserted that the land belonged to President Bola Tinubu, despite it having Governor’s Consent.
Eleto emphasized, “This is serious disobedience to a court order and should not be happening in Lagos.”
and then