A Nigerian lawyer has formally accused military personnel of unlawfully detaining and assaulting workers amid a contentious land dispute in Abuja, escalating tensions over alleged military overreach in civilian affairs. Jacob Solomon Agada, representing property firm Stats Global Homes Ltd, petitioned Nigeria’s Chief of Air Staff on July 25, demanding accountability for twin raids he claims were orchestrated to intimidate his client during ongoing court proceedings.
The conflict centers on plots 1317 and 1328 in Kubwa, a satellite town near Abuja, disputed between Stats Global Homes, linked to businessman Sheik Jibril Ibrahim, and a group led by Alhaji Manir Lawal. A lawsuit, FCTHC/CV/3844/2024, is pending before Justice Othman Musa at the Federal Capital Territory High Court. Despite this, Agada alleges Air Force officers twice stormed the property in July 2025 under the direction of Flight Lieutenant Hussein Habib Denja, Provost of Mogadishu Barracks in Asokoro.
In the first incident on July 22, armed personnel reportedly arrested three workers without warrants, detaining them at the barracks. Hours later, Denja allegedly returned with reinforcements, seizing two more staffers—Omeje Usman Eneojo and Sunday—whom Agada claims were beaten during capture. Both men remain hospitalized with severe injuries, documented in medical reports and photos cited in the petition.
The legal team argues these actions violate constitutional protections against arbitrary detention and torture, calling them “contempt of court” and a misuse of military authority to sway civil litigation. Nigeria’s Armed Forces are constitutionally barred from intervening in land disputes, which typically fall under civilian jurisdiction. Agada seeks N300 million ($215,000 USD) in compensation, sanctions against involved officers, and a public apology. Failure to comply within seven days, he warns, could trigger lawsuits and human rights complaints.
No response has been issued by Air Force spokesperson Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame despite repeated inquiries. The silence contrasts with the judiciary’s ongoing handling of the case, recently assigned to Justice Musa by FCT Chief Judge Hussein Baba Yusuf. Legal analysts note the allegations, if proven, risk eroding public confidence in military neutrality—a sensitive issue in a region where security forces have faced prior scrutiny over human rights.
The petition underscores broader concerns about armed forces exceeding legal mandates in property conflicts, a recurring challenge in Nigeria’s fast-growing urban centers where land ownership disputes often turn violent. With the court yet to rule on the land’s ownership, the military’s alleged entanglement in the case casts a shadow over Abuja’s contentious real estate landscape.
