The Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC) has petitioned the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Ajuwon Police Station, Ogun State, over alleged intimidation, coercion, and abuse of police authority involving a widow, Mrs Akinluyi Rosemary, in a vandalism case.
In a petition dated February 10, 2026, and signed by its Executive Director, Okechukwu Nwanguma, the human rights organisation accused a landlady, Mrs Osamudiamen Igunma, and some officers of the Ajuwon Police Station of misconduct and violation of due process.
According to Nwanguma, RULAAC is representing Mrs Akinluyi, who resides within the police division, following what the organisation described as unlawful treatment in connection with an alleged vandalism incident at a property in the Lambe area.
RULAAC explained that the dispute began on January 6, 2025, when Mrs Akinluyi allegedly assisted a friend in securing accommodation through a property agent. Although payment was initially made, the landlady later requested a refund, which was reportedly completed.
The organisation stated that the landlady subsequently asked Mr Akinluyi to help source tenants for her vacant apartments, despite being informed that she was not a real estate agent. The landlady allegedly handed over keys to the apartments to facilitate the process.
RULAAC further claimed that between August 2025 and January 2026, several prospective tenants were rejected by the landlady based on religion, ethnicity, and state of origin.
The situation reportedly escalated on January 25, 2026, when a couple was introduced for a two-bedroom apartment. The landlady allegedly approved the tenants and collected ₦1 million as rent, while MrsMrsinluyi received ₦100,000 as an agent fee. However, less than an hour later, the landlady allegedly reversed her decision, refunded the rent, and demanded the return of the apartment keys, while Mrs Akinluyi also refunded the agent fee.
RULAAC stated that all keys were subsequently returned, and on January 27, 2026, the landlady’s son reportedly changed the gate lock.
According to the petition, Mrs Akinluyi discovered on February 4, 2026, that the apartment had been vandalised while showing it to another prospective tenant. The damages allegedly included removathe l of electrical wiring and the destruction of ceiling components.
RULAAC stated that Mrs Akinluyi documented the damages and informed the landlady, who allegedly accused her of duplicating and distributing apartment keys while issuing threats of arrest.
The organisation alleged that Mrs Akinluyi reported the vandalism to the Ajuwon Police Station on February 5, 2026. However, RULAAC claimed that while she was making the report, the landlady arrived at the station and allegedly threatened her.
Nwanguma alleged that the landlady demanded that Mrs Akinluyi falsely implicate a former tenant’s relative in the vandalism and promised to cover repair costs if she complied.
“Upon our client’s refusal to make a false accusation, officers of the station allegedly reclassified her as the principal suspect without evidence and compelled her, under intimidation, to sign an undertaking to replace all electrical wiring in the apartment,” Nwanguma stated.
RULAAC further alleged that MMrsAkinluyi was asked to provide a surety for bail, while her brother was compelled to pay ₦30,000 despite what the organisation described as laa ck of lawful grounds for detention or bail.
The organisation also alleged that on February 8, 2026, the landlady sent voice messages insisting that Mrs Akinluyi must replace the wiring using a specific brand and engage a particular electrician.
RULAAC described the demands as punitive and beyond the lawful scope of police involvement.
Nwanguma expressed concern that police powers were allegedly used to enforce civil liability without investigation, adding that the complainant was unlawfully turned into a suspect.
“Our client was intimidated into signing an undertaking under duress, and there was an attempt to induce false accusation, contrary to law,” he said.
He also alleged that bail was monetised in violation of established police regulations.
RULAAC urged the DPO to review the handling of the case, nullify the undertaking allegedly obtained under coercion, and ensure a proper investigation into the vandalism.
The organisation also requested that the police restrain the landlady from further harassment, order the refund of the ₦30,000 bail payment, and hold any erring officers accountable.
“Our client is a law-abiding citizen who reported a crime in good faith. She should not be punished for doing so. RULAAC will continue to monitor this case and will not hesitate to escalate it if necessary,” Nwanguma added.
Efforts to obtain responses from the Ajuwon Police Station and the landlady were not immediately successful as of the time of filing this report.
