The Committee for the Defence of Human Rights has called for the urgent intervention of the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG), Zone 2, as well as senior officials from the Lagos State Police Command, following serious allegations of N400,000 extortion, unlawful detention, and abuse of authority by police personnel in Epe.
Mrs. Nkechi Esther Ikeokwu, a landowner at Epe, submitted a petition detailing her ordeal with Inspector Kehinde Sunday Johnson of Odo Noforija Divisional Police Headquarters.
According to her testimony, she was unlawfully arrested and detained for three days, allegedly coerced into paying ₦400,000 before being released.
The incident reportedly stemmed from a land ownership dispute with another woman, Mrs. Giwa Monsurat, who accused Ikeokwu of trespassing and damaging property.
Despite prior verification from local soldiers and a thorough investigation by officers at Area J Command confirming Ikeokwu’s legitimate ownership of the disputed half plot of land, further police intimidation allegedly followed.
Mrs. Ikeokwu was summoned by the Zonal Anti-Crime Unit (ZACU), Zone 2, where IPO Esther Eni allegedly dismissed the Area J case file and threatened criminal prosecution without conducting an independent inquiry.
Human rights advocates, including Comrade Isa Oyetunji, have called for accountability and a transparent investigation into the conduct of Inspectors Johnson and Eni.
They are demanding restitution of funds paid under duress and immediate disciplinary actions to ensure public trust in law enforcement.
A visitation by the rights committee to the property and the seller’s household further reinforced claims of rightful ownership by Mrs. Ikeokwu, while the accuser, Mrs. Monsurat, has reportedly failed to produce any legal documentation to support her claims.
The Committee is urging AIG Zone 2, CP Jimoh Moshood, and relevant police authorities to prevent further harassment and uphold justice in what they describe as a clear violation of fundamental rights.
