Chief Busari Abatan Adeleye, the Baale of Adeleye Opeki Community in Abesan, Ipaja, Lagos, has taken the Inspector‑General of Police and the Commissioner of Police, Force Intelligence Department, Lagos Annex, to court. He alleges harassment, intimidation and unlawful arrest. Together with two family members, Taiwo Adeleye and Akinola Akeem Adeleye, he filed a N50 million fundamental‑rights enforcement suit at the Lagos State High Court, Ikeja.
The applicants seek a judicial declaration that their arrest and detention on 15 and 16 September, allegedly orchestrated by Egonte Chukwuma Onyema, violated their constitutional rights to liberty, dignity of person and property under the 1999 Constitution. They contend that the police actions, carried out on Onyema’s instructions, amounted to an abuse of power and unlawful interference with their rights.
The dispute originates from a long‑standing land conflict between the applicants and Onyema’s family. The Adeleye family claims customary ownership of the Opeki Village land in Abesan, a claim affirmed by a Lagos State High Court judgment on 7 July 2022. Despite that ruling, Onyema is accused of repeatedly urging the police to unlawfully interfere with the family’s rights and to forcefully re‑enter the disputed land.
In addition to a declaration of rights violation, the applicants request restraining orders to prevent further arrests or harassment by the respondents, N50 million in general damages and N5 million in aggravated damages. The land dispute dates back to 2011, when the Adeleye family filed a civil suit against Andrew Egonte, Onyema’s father. The court entered judgment for the Adeleye family after Egonte’s counsel failed to file a defence.
The plaintiffs maintain that, despite the court’s decision, they have continued to face police harassment and intimidation at Onyema’s behest. As of the filing, the Inspector‑General of Police, the Commissioner of Police and Onyema have not responded, and no hearing date has been set. The case underscores the need for law‑enforcement agencies to respect citizens’ fundamental rights and avoid abuse of power, and its outcome could set a precedent for similar future cases.
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