Reported By Mary Udezue | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
ABUJA, Nigeria — Controversy has erupted over the involvement of senior police officials, including Deputy Commissioner of Police Akin Fakorede, head of the Inspector‑General of Police (IGP) Monitoring Unit, in a high‑stakes land dispute at River Park Estate, Lugbe, Abuja, with investors accusing law enforcement of aggressive tactics, disregard for court orders, and intimidation that threaten Nigeria’s business environment.
The dispute centres on competing claims over ownership and control of the prestigious River Park Estate development. At the heart of the controversy are Ghanaian investors who assert they have longstanding legal interests in the property and who turned to Nigeria’s courts for protection after the conflict intensified. In June 2025, the investors filed a lawsuit at the Federal High Court in Abuja, naming as defendants the Nigeria Police Force, the IGP, Kayode Egbetokun, the FCT Commissioner of Police, and DCP Akin Fakorede alongside several senior officers of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The plaintiffs sought judicial restraining orders to prevent further police and regulatory interference in what they maintain is essentially a civil land dispute awaiting final determination by the courts.
According to the investors’ filings, they have faced repeated “intimidation, harassment, [and] detention” by police officers and EFCC personnel acting on behalf of rival claimants, despite existing legal processes and attempts to resolve title disputes through appropriate judicial channels. They argue that the use of coercive police action — including what they describe as repeated summonses issued under threatening conditions by Fakorede’s monitoring unit — has contravened both court‑mandated restraints and basic due process. Some footage circulated widely on social media appeared to show uniformed officers engaging with individuals linked to the case, which the investors say underscores alleged abuses of police power.
Investors further claim that they approached the Police Service Commission and other oversight bodies to investigate what they view as professional misconduct by Fakorede and other senior officers. According to the plaintiffs, the dispute’s highly publicised nature — involving foreign direct investment and significant capital — means any perception of state interference in favour of one private party over another risks undermining broader confidence in Nigeria’s investment climate and the enforceability of property rights.
The nature of the land conflict has also attracted attention from other regulatory authorities. In a related development, a separate petition was submitted in December 2025 to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), urging scrutiny of alleged administrative actions affecting corporate filings tied to the investors’ companies. Petitioners raised concerns that changes to corporate records at the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) — purportedly influenced by a police report — undermined ongoing litigation and could have wider implications for regulatory certainty.
Police leadership has maintained that the involvement of law enforcement in the dispute stems from criminal dimensions alleged by various parties, including claims of forgery, impersonation and other offences. In June 2025, the Nigeria Police Force announced planned prosecution of three Ghanaian businessmen over alleged forgery and corporate fraud in connection with the River Park matter, although the investors have contested the legitimacy and timing of such actions given overlapping civil suits before the courts.
Court orders have added complexity to the situation. At various points, judicial directives have been issued to maintain the status quo and restrain parties from unilateral actions — including construction and development on disputed land — pending resolution of ownership and related legal issues. Despite these orders, enforcement actions by security and regulatory bodies have continued to draw criticism from affected stakeholders, who warn that such enforcement threats may contravene the court’s instructions and blur the line between civil dispute resolution and state power.
Legal experts note that land disputes involving high‑profile properties in Abuja have historically been fraught with complications, often involving overlapping claims, unclear documentation and multiple suits before different judicial fora. These dynamics, they say, require careful navigation by both investors and law enforcement to ensure adherence to legal protocols and respect for institutional mandates. Missteps — particularly those that suggest preferential enforcement or disregard for judicial restraint orders — can have wider implications for Nigeria’s rule of law and attractiveness to foreign investors.
Meanwhile, the allegations against Fakorede and senior police officers underscore broader concerns about the potential misuse of police units, including the Monitoring Unit, which operates directly under the IGP’s office and has authority to intervene in sensitive or high‑profile matters. Critics argue that the perception of law enforcement as an instrument of pressure in a private dispute can erode public trust and cast a shadow over the impartial application of justice.
As the dispute continues to play out in court and in regulatory filings, observers say the overarching challenge lies in balancing the enforcement of criminal law where appropriate with respect for civil adjudication processes — particularly in cases involving significant domestic and foreign capital. For now, the involvement of Fakorede and his colleagues in the Police Monitoring Unit remains a focal point of contention between parties who demand clarity, due process and adherence to the rule of law.
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