The Baale of Adeleye Opeki Community in Abesan, Ipaja, Lagos, Chief Busari Abatan Adeleye, has dragged the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and the Commissioner of Police in charge of the Force Intelligence Department (FID), Lagos Annex, Akanniyene Ezima, before the Lagos State High Court, Ikeja, over alleged unlawful arrest and harassment.
In the suit, Chief Adeleye, alongside two family members—Taiwo Adeleye and Akinola Akeem Adeleye—claims their fundamental rights were violated during their arrest and detention between September 15 and 16. They allege the action was instigated by one Egonte Chukwuma Onyema, who is joined as the third respondent.
The applicants are seeking a declaration that their arrest breached their constitutional rights to liberty, dignity, and property under Sections 35, 36, and 44 of the 1999 Constitution. They are demanding N50 million in general damages, N5 million in aggravated damages, and restraining orders to prevent further harassment.
In a supporting 31-paragraph affidavit, the applicants insist that their family are the rightful owners of Opeki Village land, a claim already upheld in a July 7, 2022 judgment delivered by Justice O.A. Taiwo of the Lagos High Court in suit No: ID/1495/2010. Despite this ruling, they allege Onyema has continued to incite police interference and attempted to forcefully reclaim the land.
Court records reveal that the land dispute dates back to 2010, involving Onyema’s father, Andrew Egonte. The Adeleye family maintains that the matter had been conclusively settled in their favour after Egonte’s side failed to file a defence.
As of now, the IGP, CP Ezima, and Onyema have yet to respond to the suit. The case is awaiting a hearing date.
