A property allegedly encroached on by some land grabbers has been recovered by the police.
Justice Kudirat Jose of the Lagos State High Court had on October 24, 2019, granted an order restraining the receiver-manager appointed by the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria from encroaching on the property belonging to a businessman, Adedayo Shittu, and situated on Victory Park Estate, Lekki Phase 1 area of Lagos State.
However, unsatisfied with the court ruling, AMCON approached the appellate court to challenge the lower court’s order.
A three-man panel of the Court of Appeal chaired by Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem on December 15, 2020, dismissed AMCON’s appeal and affirmed the High Court’s interlocutory injunction.
Following the court’s ruling, Shittu’s lawyer, Ojumetor Agha, said some unknown individuals attempted to seize the property, which prompted him to petition the Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Force CID, Area 10, Garki, Abuja, on March 28, 2021, inviting the police to investigate the invasion.
The petition read in part, “During a routine visit to the land on March 22, 2021, our client discovered that some unknown persons had encroached on the land and were about to commence construction work on the foundation for a building.
“Consequently, we filed a petition against the said persons at the Land Grabbers’ Task Force in Alausa on March 23, 2021. After processing the petition, a stop-work order was issued by the task force directing the person to report to their office for interrogation in connection with our client’s pavilion.
“To our chagrin and utter dismay, the said persons have ignored the directive and have continued with the construction work. These persons also have some policemen stationed within the estate, who are aiding their unlawful actions.”
Agha added that following the petition to the DIG, the police commenced investigation into the matter, executed the court order and recovered the property from the land grabbers.