Rivers Police: CP Olugbenga Adepoju Denies Rumuosi Land Grabbing Claims

• The Rivers State Police Command dismissed allegations of land grabbing against CP Olugbenga Adepoju, stating his involvement was limited to providing security for a court bailiff.
• The CP's office received an application for police protection to execute a judgment in Suit No. CCC/22/2015, which was verified as valid by the Customary Court, Choba.
• Police personnel were deployed on April 7 and 8, 2025, with explicit instructions not to physically participate in the judgment execution.
• Residents of Victory Estate, Rumuosi, objected, claiming the judgment applied to land in Rumuagholu, not their property, prompting CP Adepoju to halt the execution.
• An investigation confirmed the judgment did not cover the disputed Victory Estate property, and a separate suit (PHC/1467/FHR/2026) is ongoing at the Rivers State High Court.

The command emphasized that the Commissioner of Police neither acquired nor took possession of any land belonging to the Victory Estate, Rumuosi Community.

The Rivers State Police Command has firmly refuted accusations of land grabbing leveled against its Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju, labeling the claims as both false and misleading. These allegations emerged following a public protest by the Rumuosi Council of Chiefs and local residents from the Victory Estate area within the Obio/Akpor Local Government Area. The protesters had specifically accused CP Adepoju of collaborating with individuals involved in land grabbing to unlawfully seize ancestral land situated at Victory Estate, Rumuosi, and had appealed to Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Disu for an investigation into the matter.

In response, ASP Blessing Agabe, the command's spokesperson, issued a statement from Port Harcourt on a Monday, titled "Re: Grabbing of Land of Victory Estate Land at Rumuosi." This statement clarified that CP Adepoju's involvement in the contentious land issue was strictly limited to authorizing security for a court bailiff who was tasked with executing a judicial judgment. The command emphasized that the Commissioner of Police neither acquired nor took possession of any land belonging to the Victory Estate, Rumuosi Community.

The Rivers State Police Command detailed the specific circumstances surrounding CP Olugbenga Adepoju's involvement. On March 6, 2025, an application was submitted by O. S. Obior, Esq., representing Kirigust Global Resources Nig. Ltd., requesting police protection for a court bailiff. The purpose was to facilitate the execution of a judgment stemming from Suit No. CCC/22/2015, a land dispute case titled Col. Ogwumerum Eke & Anor. v. Chief Friday Ibeabuchi Anya & Ors. This request for Olugbenga Adepoju police bailiff protection was subsequently forwarded to the Department of Operations and then to the Police Legal Section for thorough verification.

Following this internal review, the Customary Court in Choba confirmed on March 21, 2025, that the judgment in question was indeed valid, with no outstanding appeal or stay of execution. Based on this legal advice, police personnel were deployed on April 7 and 8, 2025. Crucially, the command issued explicit directives that these officers were to provide security only and were not to engage physically in the actual execution process of the judgment.

During the attempted execution of the judgment, residents of Victory Estate, Rumuosi, raised immediate objections. While they did not dispute the validity of the underlying judgment itself, they contended that the court order pertained to land located in the Rumuagholu Community, not their properties within Victory Estate, Rumuosi. Upon receiving these conflicting claims, the Commissioner of Police promptly halted the execution proceedings.

CP Adepoju then directed the Police Legal Section to launch an investigation into the residents' assertions. This inquiry involved inviting all relevant parties to present their positions, visiting the disputed site, and documenting any damaged properties through photographs. The subsequent investigation conclusively established that the judgment did not, in fact, cover the specific property disputed by the residents, thereby reinforcing the Rivers Police deny Victory Estate land stance.

Beyond the immediate incident, the Rivers State Police Command also noted that a separate legal action, Suit No. PHC/1467/FHR/2026, is currently pending before the Rivers State High Court. This suit was initiated by Col. Ogwumerum Eke and three other parties against the Nigeria Police Force and other defendants, and the command has stated its intention to allow the court to adjudicate on the issues presented before it.

The command further issued a stern warning to all its officers, reiterating that they are prohibited from engaging in land-related matters without proper authorization and robust legal backing. This directive underscores the police's commitment to maintaining impartiality and adhering strictly to legal protocols, particularly in sensitive land disputes, and emphasizes the importance of Nigeria police land matters authorization.

Lawyers and compliance officers should note the police's clarified stance on providing security for court bailiffs during judgment execution, emphasizing that their role is strictly limited to security and not physical participation in the execution itself. This case highlights the critical importance of verifying the precise scope and applicability of court orders in land disputes, as conflicting claims regarding judgment boundaries can lead to significant complications and allegations, even when police protection is involved.

Source: Original reporting via Punch Newspapers