The Kuje Amuwo Chieftaincy Family has called on the Nigeria Police Force to urgently conclude its investigation into a longstanding land dispute over a substantial parcel situated in the 6th and 7th Avenue area of Festac Extension, Amuwo-Odofin, Lagos State.
According to the family, its petition to the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) was approved for investigation and is currently being handled by the Police Monitoring Unit, Lagos Branch, Obalende, with Inspector Ifajimi serving as the Investigating Police Officer (IPO). However, the family expressed concern that, despite the investigation having commenced, no outcome has been communicated. They urged police authorities to accelerate the process and share their findings.
In its petition, the family alleged that the Lagos State Task Force on Land Matters had engaged in actions amounting to harassment, intimidation, and disruption of activities on the disputed land, further claiming that the Task Force was acting on behalf of the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) and other interests. These allegations, as stated in the petition, have not been established by a court of law.
The dispute, according to the family, stretches back decades, originating from the Federal Government’s acquisition of land for the 1977 Festival of Arts and Culture (FESTAC). A charting exercise directed by the Office of the Surveyor-General of the Federation reportedly showed that 4.017 hectares were acquired for the Federal Housing Authority, with the family asserting that the remainder rightfully belongs to them.
The petition further claims that in December 2010, the Federal Ministry of Land, Housing and Urban Development released the unused portion of the land to the family. Subsequent attempts by alleged trespassers to take possession led to litigation, resulting in the Federal High Court, Lagos, granting an interlocutory injunction on February 29, 2016, and awarding possession on May 25, 2016. The matter then proceeded through the appellate courts before being referred to the Lagos State High Court for retrial.
Currently, the case is before Justice R.I.B. Adebiyi of the Lagos State High Court, with previous attempts at an out-of-court settlement having been explored. The family maintains that restraining orders and injunctions remain in effect regarding the property and urges all parties, including government agencies, to respect the ongoing judicial process.
Against this backdrop, the Kuje Amuwo Chieftaincy Family is appealing to the IGP and the Police Monitoring Unit to expedite their investigation and convey the results to the relevant stakeholders. The family warns that the prolonged uncertainty surrounding the police inquiry is exacerbating an already protracted court battle.
Additionally, the family requests an immediate end to any alleged harassment or interference with legitimate activities on the property, pending legal resolution. It specifically called for the removal of a makeshift office reportedly set up at the entrance of Early Life Gate and urged the FHA and other interested parties to pursue their claims through due process rather than resorting to self-help.
This development has refocused attention on the police investigation authorized by the IGP, with the family awaiting the findings from Inspector Ifajimi and the Police Monitoring Unit. The family emphasizes that only a transparent and timely conclusion to both the police investigation and the judicial proceedings will bring closure to this longstanding dispute.
