Federal High Court Awards ₦10m Against Police, Businessman Eletu for Rights Violation in Lagos Land Dispute
The Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, has awarded ₦10 million in damages against the Nigeria Police Force and businessman Kazeem Gbadamosi Eletu for violating the fundamental rights of Prince Toluwaleke Megba in a long-running land dispute that had previously been decided by the Lagos State High Court.
Justice Ibrahim Ahmad Kala delivered the judgment in Suit No. FHC/L/CS/1306/2024, ruling that repeated police invitations, threats of arrest and detention, and an alleged attempt by armed officers to arrest Megba at his residence were unjustified under the circumstances.
The court awarded ₦5 million against the police respondents and an additional ₦5 million against Eletu, bringing the total compensation to ₦10 million.
Justice Kala also issued an injunction restraining the Inspector-General of Police, the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 2 Command, Lagos, Assistant Superintendent of Police Adewunmi Oderinwale, and Eletu from further inviting, threatening, harassing, intimidating, arresting or detaining Megba over allegations of fraud and forgery connected to the disputed property.
The judge held that the respondents’ actions violated Megba’s constitutional rights to dignity and personal liberty, as guaranteed under Sections 34(1) and 35(1) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
The fundamental-rights suit stemmed from a longstanding land dispute in which Megba had previously obtained a favourable judgment from the Lagos State High Court.
In Suit No. LD/2533/2010, Justice Obadina ruled on March 9, 2017, affirming Megba as the lawful owner of the disputed parcel of land.
However, Megba alleged that despite the existing judgment, the police continued to invite and threaten him over allegations of fraud and forgery concerning the same property following a petition submitted by Eletu.
His counsel, D.C. Kemdirim, argued that the police intervention amounted to repeated harassment over a land ownership dispute that had already been resolved by a court of competent jurisdiction.
Kemdirim further told the Federal High Court that armed police officers visited Megba’s residence on May 7, 2024, allegedly attempting to arrest him with handcuffs without a warrant.
Following these incidents, Megba approached the court, seeking declarations that the respondents’ actions were unlawful and violated his constitution
