Reported By Mary Udezue | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
A troubling dispute over land in Suleja, Niger State, has escalated into a highly contentious legal confrontation that has left a woman behind bars and drawn sharp criticism from her family and rights advocates. The case, centering on allegations that a husband colluded with local police to have his wife remanded in prison over ownership of property, highlights deep issues of domestic conflict, law enforcement conduct, and access to justice in civil disputes.
Mrs. Alice Anthony, a woman in her late 30s and mother of five, is scheduled to remain in custody at Suleja Prison until January 29, 2026, following a court decision to remand her in connection with a land ownership dispute involving her husband, Mr. Monday Anthony. Family sources and legal advocates insist that what began as a domestic disagreement has been improperly turned into a criminal matter, with allegations that police sided with the husband and limited Mrs. Anthony’s legal rights throughout the process.
The contentious issue revolves around three plots of land in the Sabo Wuse area of Suleja that Mrs. Anthony purchased in 2019. According to relatives, the land was bought using funds sent by her husband while he worked in Lagos and contributions from Mrs. Anthony’s own savings. The purchase was formally recorded in the name of her firstborn son, with Mrs. Anthony as the sole signatory. Those close to the family maintain that the seller and village chief recognized her as the rightful owner.
The discord between the couple reportedly began years ago after Mr. Anthony allegedly began a relationship with another woman from Cross River State, leaving his family in financial hardship. Mrs. Anthony, then pregnant with her youngest child, was said to have struggled to support her children while Mr. Anthony lived with the other woman. During this period, relatives reportedly assisted with basic needs, including schooling and food, as Mrs. Anthony took loans to survive.
The land dispute intensified when Mr. Anthony purportedly persuaded his wife to hand over the land documents for sale. Family members said he sold two plots, handing Mrs. Anthony only a small fraction of the proceeds and absconding with the rest. Later, amid threats of eviction from their home by the husband’s instructions to their landlord, Mrs. Anthony sold the remaining plot for approximately ₦2.7 million. With the proceeds, she cleared her children’s school debts, paid off outstanding loans, and rented new accommodation.
The situation took a dramatic turn when Mr. Anthony reportedly approached the police following the sale, framing the transaction as unlawful. Family accounts suggest that Mrs. Anthony and four of the children were detained, although the children were released shortly after. Mrs. Anthony, however, remained in custody for three days before being granted bail. Despite this, she was repeatedly summoned to the station and pressured by officers handling the case.
Rights advocates, including the Suleja branch of the Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), have been offering pro bono legal assistance. According to Barrister Florence Egbunu, efforts are underway to secure Mrs. Anthony’s freedom, though the magistrate has maintained that legal procedures were followed in the decision to adjourn bail hearings. The court’s approach, Egbunu explained, reflected established legal provisions, even as critics argue that the matter should never have been criminalised given its civil nature.
Critics of the police conduct in the case allege that the husband’s influence may have shaped the investigation and proceedings. Family sources describe an environment where police insisted the dispute was criminal rather than civil, demanding the return of the ₦2.7 million from Mrs. Anthony or threatening prolonged incarceration. On one occasion, Mrs. Anthony was reportedly summoned to the police station despite her four-year-old child being seriously ill, a fact that drew sharp condemnation from her relatives.
The core of the controversy lies in how a property disagreement — typically handled in civil courts — became the basis for criminal charges. Nigerian legal practitioners generally distinguish between civil matters like land ownership and criminal offences, except where fraud or violence is involved. Yet in this case, police appear to have treated a contractual dispute over land as a criminal issue, resulting in detention and court proceedings that have further strained the household.
Family members and community activists have also raised concerns about the broader implications of the case for women’s rights and economic independence in Nigeria. Land ownership remains a critical source of security and wealth for families, but women often face systemic barriers when asserting such rights, particularly in traditional settings where male relatives may challenge their control over property. When disputes like this intersect with policing and local power dynamics, the consequences for vulnerable individuals can be severe.
Observers argue that ensuring fair access to justice requires clear separation between civil disputes and criminal investigations. Lawyers highlighting the case point out that adjudication over land title and ownership typically falls within civil jurisdiction, where parties present evidence before an impartial judge without the involvement of law enforcement detaining individuals. They contend that the police’s role should have been limited to verifying documentation and advising parties to pursue civil remedies.
Civil society groups have called for transparent review of the police’s actions in this case, urging authorities to revisit the prosecution’s basis and to expedite a resolution that upholds the rule of law. The Federation of Women Lawyers has reiterated its commitment to supporting Mrs. Anthony’s legal team, emphasising that financial disputes within families should not become punitive matters that strip away liberty.
As this complex case unfolds, it brings into sharp relief broader societal questions: how law enforcement engages with domestic disputes involving property, and the safeguards necessary to protect citizens — especially women — from potential misuse of policing powers. For many, the Anthony land dispute underscores the urgent need for reforms that ensure civil conflicts are addressed through appropriate legal channels without unnecessary criminalisation.
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News Credit to Sahara Reporters who their report make it possible to expose this act
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