A legal practitioner, Mrs Ibironke Alice, has accused the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) of compromising the rule of law by allegedly supporting the execution of a disputed property despite multiple pending court cases and ongoing appeals.
Speaking on the matter, Alice claimed that the property, which is the subject of several legal disputes in both Lagos and Osun states, was being demolished by an alleged buyer while tenants were still occupying the premises.
“Our law profession is seriously in the eye of the storm, and lawyers are facing serious challenges,” she said. “A tenancy matter is currently on appeal, while an application for leave to appeal is pending before Magistrate Court 12, Ogba. Yet, the property is being pulled down despite ongoing litigation and without notice being served on tenants.”
Alice alleged that individuals accompanied by law enforcement officers arrived at the property with documents purportedly authorising execution, despite previous denials by judicial authorities.
“They came with some documents alongside law enforcement agencies, but the Lagos State Judiciary had earlier denied issuing or signing any document for execution,” she stated.
According to the lawyer, a petition had previously been submitted to the Chief Judge of Lagos State over an earlier execution of the property.
“We petitioned the Chief Judge to investigate the first execution carried out last year. Investigations conducted in November and February reportedly confirmed that no sheriff’s execution order emanated from Lagos State,” she said.
Alice questioned the continued police presence at the disputed property.
“Where did those currently on the property get police protection from? I learnt that Magistrate Court 12 recently reprimanded parties involved over the matter,” she added.
The lawyer further explained that the dispute centres on a contested Letter of Administration allegedly obtained by some siblings over family property.
“The siblings do not have the legal right to apply for the Letter of Administration. One of the beneficiaries has been challenging the purported Letter of Administration at the High Court in Osogbo since 2024, and the trial commenced this year,” Alice said.
She alleged that the administrators had continued to dispose of family properties while legal proceedings were ongoing.
“They have been selling properties without sharing the proceeds with one of the rightful beneficiaries and are using illegal means to frustrate court cases,” she claimed.
Alice also alleged that the beneficiary had suffered repeated intimidation and arrests before intervention by the African Women Lawyers Association (AWLA).
“If you know the number of times she was incarcerated and taken to correctional facilities, it took the intervention of AWLA to stop the police intimidation and harassment,” she said.
The lawyer disclosed that four separate matters relating to the property remain pending before various courts, including a challenge to the Letter of Administration at the High Court in Osogbo, a fundamental rights enforcement suit, a challenge to property sales at the High Court in Ikorodu, and an appeal-related application before Magistrate Court 12 in Ogba.
She further alleged that a previous judgment delivered by a magistrate in favour of the purported administrators had been challenged.
“A motion for joinder and a preliminary objection challenging the purported Letter of Administration were dismissed, and judgment was delivered in favour of the administrators. The alleged buyer then came to execute the judgment and maliciously damaged parts of the property despite the pending court matters,” she claimed.
Describing the latest development as a “fourth illegal execution,” Alice alleged that a large group of individuals accompanied by police officers had invaded the property.
“They are allegedly waving Lagos State documents, accompanied by about 25 thugs and police officers. The area is currently crowded based on reports we have received,” she said.
She maintained that the Chief Judge of Lagos State had previously intervened in the matter.
“The Chief Judge investigated the execution process and ordered the case file to be transferred from Magistrate Court 7, Ogba, to Magistrate Court 12 for reassignment and hearing of pending applications,” she stated.
Alice also claimed that a caveat had been filed against the resealing of the disputed Letter of Administration obtained from the Probate Registry in Osogbo.
Additionally, she alleged continued police harassment and identified two officers she claimed were involved in the matter.
The names of two of the officers are Gwatana Jere and Owotiku. Others allegedly removed or concealed their badges and covered their faces,” she alleged.
The lawyer called for further investigation into the circumstances surrounding the property’s execution and the role of security personnel, insisting that all pending court proceedings should be respected until the legal disputes are conclusively resolved.
