Osogbo Land Dispute: Lawyer Petitions PSC Chairman, Alleges Assault, Obstruction Of Court Order

An Osogbo-based lawyer, Barrister Lekan Alabi has petitioned the Chairman of Police Service Commission, retired DIG Hashimu Argungu urging him to intervene in a land dispute that has featured assault, obstruction of court order and other excesses on the part of some prominent people in the State of the Living Spring.

In the petition in question, Alabi listed his complaints to include misconduct, human rights violations and unlawful arrest.

Alabi & Egbetunde Law firm in the petition under discussion which was dated August 7, 2025, urged the Police Service Commission to take quick remedial steps in respect of matters that have to do with the land dispute, 

A copy of the petition was made available to Team@orientactualmags.com on Thursday.

The complainant accused the Inspector General of Police of conniving with four other top police officers to frustrate the efforts made in respect of execution of court order and other things that have to do with the land dispute.

The affected police chiefs include the Commissioner of Police, Osun State Command; Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 11; The Area Commander, Oke-Fia, Osogbo; and the Commissioner of Police, SWAT.

The law firm alleged that on August 6, 2025, Abuja-based SWAT police officers arrested the complainants in Osogbo in an embarrassing manner noting that the incident climaxed a series of attacks where both the lawyer and court officials were manhandled during the execution of the court order for possession of properties that were trespassed upon by judgment debtors.

‘We act as Solicitors to LEKAN ALABI ESQ. MADAM MISTURA BUSARI and MR NAJEEM POPOOLA who we shall hereinafter be referring to as our clients.

We have the instructions of our clients to forward this petition to your good offices sir

FACTS:

1. That Madam Mistura Busari by virtue of inheritance become owner of a large expanse of land lying, being and situate along lkirun Road, Osogbo, Osun State.

2. It needs to be stated that the title of the Predecessors -in-title of Madam Mistura Busari on the entire land described above has been challenged by Alare Family, Osogbo in court and their title to the said land was affirmed by the court.

 Kindly find attached judgment in Suit No: HOS/102/80 between SHITTU LADIMEJI & 3 ORS and ASHIRU AJAGBE & 6 ORS and Suit No: HOS/71/93: Hephzibah Holdings Ltd. V. Madam Sinatu Adeoye& 4 others. ANNEXTURE ‘A’ and ‘B’.

3. In the meantime, Madam Mistura Busari approached Mr. Lekan Alabi Esq, a Legal Practitioner in Osogbo to institute an action for the Leave of Court to execute the above-stated judgments. Additionally, she appointed Mr. Najeem Popoola as her Lawful Attorney regarding the entire land in question. Kindly find attached copy of Power of Attorney dated 29th day of April, 2025. ANNEXTURE ‘C’

4. It is expedient to state at this juncture that Mr. Lekan Alabi approached High Court of Justice, Osogbo Judicial Division for Leave of Court to execute the Judgment in Suit No: HOS/71/93: Hephzibah Holdings Ltd. V. Madam Sinatu Adeoye & 4 others.

The Court graciously granted the application for Leave to execute and the warrant of possession was validly issued and executed against properties on the land in dispute. Find attached the Order of the court in HOS/M.206/2024, BETWEEN MRS MISTURA BUSARI VS, HEPHZIBAH HOLDINGS LTD on the 20th day of February, 2025, based on the Applicant/Respondent Ex- Parte Application dated the 20^th day of February, 2025. ANNEXTURE ‘D’

5. That the illegal property owners and tenants called the judgment of the court a ‘fake and kangaroo’ judgment to the extent that the Governor of Osun State ordered the A.I.G, Zone XI, Osogbo to investigate his lordship’s judgment. Copy of the Police investigation Report is herewith attached. ANNEXTURE ‘E’.

6. To the chagrin of our clients, hoodlums sponsored by the privies/agents of the Judgment Debtor attacked our clients, the police officers, Bailiff’ the complainant submitted in the petition while noting that he looks forward to the PSC Chairman taking a  ‘swift and optimum’ action on the petition.

Recall that Chairman of the Police Service Commission, retired DIG Hashimu Argungu, had recently expressed commitment to curbing human rights abuse, especially where police officers are found to have unlawfully interfered in land disputes. 

NBA President, Maxi Afam Osigwe, SAN, has also spoken in the same vein noting that inviting a Director of Prosecution and some law officers for exercising their power to enter a ‘Nolle Prosequi’ in a criminal matter is a provocative overreach.

The NBA President argued that such actions call into question the policing and investigation model in Nigeria, while it is also a breach of the nation’s constitution-Team@orientactualmags.com  Do you have any information you wish to share with us? Do you want us to cover your event or programme? Kindly send SMS to 08035023079,  08059100286, 09094171980 or get in touch via orientactualmag@gmail.com.  Thank you