Tenant Petitions IG Over Unlawful Ultimatum To Vacate Apartment

A Tenant of an apartment Ilupeju, Lagos, Vincent Uba, has petitioned the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, over an alleged attempt to forcefully and unlawfully eject him from his apartment.

In the petition, signed by his lawyer, Ogedi Ogu, the petitioner urged the IGP to intervene in the matter and order an investigation into his alleged intimidation and harassment by the new owners of the property and the police.

The apartment is located at 5, Association Avenue, Ilupeju.

While detailing the events that transpired on May 28, 2025, Ogu stated that an individual claiming to have purchased the property gained access, broke down the gates, and obstructed the entrances of the building by dumping truckloads of sand, thereby preventing occupants from entering or leaving the premises.

The lawyer also claimed that the property buyer, reportedly unreachable throughout the ordeal, enlisted police assistance to facilitate these unlawful actions.

The petitioner further alleged that the police invited two tenants for questioning and released them on bail after collecting money, treating them as if they were criminals.

He alleged that the police claimed to be acting on a petition from the Oyo State Ministry of Justice and the supposed buyer, seeking vacant possession of the property.

Ogu reported that his client, who conducts business at the premises, was emotionally distressed when recounting his experience with the police.

“Upon returning from the station, he found that the gates had been broken and the entrances blocked by heaps of sand,” he said.

Meanwhile, Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke has ordered all parties in the matter to maintain the status quo pending the hearing and determination of the applicant’s application to enforce his rights.

The judge gave the order while ruling on a suit filed by Uba seeking an order of the court restraining the respondents, their agents, associates or any other parties from taking any further actions in connection with the matter pending the determination of the application for the enforcement of the applicant’s fundamental human rights filed in the suit, and any other orders the court may deem fit in the circumstance.