CP Accused of Connivance with Alleged Land Grabber to Attack Workers in Lagos

Sunday Ehigiator

The Chief Executive Officer(CEO), of Kwawel Nigeria Limited, Mr Usman Emmanuel, has accused the newly promoted Commissioner of Police, State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti, Lagos, Adedamola  Ayilara, of connivance with an alleged ‘land grabber’, the Founder, Bafaj Investments Limited, Babalola Fajobi, to beat up his workers and destroy his properties worth over N100 million over land dispute.

Speaking with THISDAY, Emmanuel said that sometime in 2019, he was contracted by the ancestral owners (Eletu Odibo family, Oluwo family and Saula lmmam family of Bogije community) of about 600 acres of land, located at Ibeju Lekki area of Lagos State, to help clear, reclaim from swamp, and sand-fill the land.

“I immediately went to work. So I have been carrying on legitimate work of sand-filling and reclamation of the land for over four years, without any interference or intrusion and following the terms and conditions of the agreement executed between myself and my client.

“But sometime on October 9, 2023, while my staff were carrying on their legitimate work, the CEO of Bafaj Investments Limited, Mr. Babalola Fajobi stormed the property, in the company of thugs and gun-wielding officers of the Nigerian Police and went ahead to assault, harass, intimidate and caused grievous bodily harm to my staff and caused apprehension in the entire community.

“I was further informed that Mr Babalola Fajobi and the officers were particularly interested in the physical assault of my staff and the destruction of my properties. One of my staff that was assaulted and inflicted with bodily harm, Mr. Bakare Thomas, was treated for his wounds at a medical facility for two days,” he said.

He therefore, demanded that the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, use his good office to call  Ayilara to order.

Reacting to the allegation when contacted by THISDAY, Ayilara referred our correspondent to speak with the force’s spokesperson.

According to him: “Emmanuel has written to everywhere including the Nigerian Police Authority, and several media houses who are all asking me for comments, but I will refer you to the PPRO, while I will meet him in court.

“More than 30 journalists have called me, but as I told them, he said he has taken the case to court. I expected him to wait for the court, but there was nothing I wanted to say.

“If he feels that he is telling the truth let us meet in court. This is a man who does not even know me and I have not even seen him in my life, and he is there with claims. But this is the nature of our job. I don’t have any grudge against him, but we will meet in court since he has said he will approach the court. I won’t talk much about it,” he said.

All efforts to get reactions from the Force Spokesperson, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, and also the Lagos State Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin proved unsuccessful as neither of them picked up their calls nor replied messages sent before the time of filing of this report.