Lagos Socialite Fajembola Sues Police Over Harassment Claims, Demands N50m Damages 

Lagos Socialite Gail Fajembola has filed a fundamental rights enforcement suit before the Federal High Court in Lagos, seeking an order of perpetual injunction to restrain Olutoyl Estate Development & Services Ltd, the Inspector General of Police, and four others from arresting, detaining, or harassing her in relation to a civil property dispute.

In the suit filed by her counsel, Akin Apara of BA LAW LLP, Fajembola is asking the court to declare that the Nigeria Police Force cannot misuse its powers under the guise of investigating a civil transaction to intimidate her into evicting a lawful tenant or surrendering possession of a disputed property —Flat K9-2, Ocean Parade Towers, Banana Island, Ikoyi— to a real estate firm, Olutoyl Estate Development & Services Ltd.

The action, brought under the Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules, 2009, and Sections 35(1), 36, 41(1), and 46(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), lists as respondents: the Inspector General of Police, the Assistant Inspector General of Police (Zone 2), the Commissioner of Police (Lagos State Command), Ogbonna Nweke, Olutoyl Estate Development & Services Ltd, and Tunde Ayeni.

Fajembola is seeking several declarations, including that any threats by the police to arrest or detain her over a private civil dispute are unconstitutional, oppressive, and a violation of her rights to dignity, liberty, and freedom of movement. She further contends that it is not the statutory role of the police to enforce property repossession on behalf of private individuals.

The reliefs sought include:

• An order of perpetual injunction restraining the 1st to 4th respondents from further interfering with her fundamental rights;

• ₦50 million in damages for what she terms as “unlawful and unconstitutional interference” with her constitutionally guaranteed freedoms.

In a supporting 10-paragraph affidavit deposed to by Olawale Arowosaye, a litigation clerk at BA LAW LLP, the court was informed that the dispute arose from a previously cordial relationship between Fajembola and Tunde Ayeni.

According to the affidavit, Tunde Ayeni permitted Fajembola to occupy the said property in 2016. She reportedly invested $45,792 in furnishing the apartment and resided there until her relocation to the United Kingdom in 2019. During her absence, the apartment was initially used as a short-let (Airbnb) and was subsequently leased in 2022 to Expand Global Industries Ltd. as a yearly tenant.

Fajembola claims that the lease arrangement was made with Ayeni’s verbal consent and full awareness. However, after the personal relationship deteriorated, she alleged that Tunde Ayeni and Olutoyl Estate Development began pressuring her to evict the tenant sometime in January 2025 and return the apartment.

Rather than pursue lawful eviction proceedings, the 5th and 6th respondents allegedly resorted to police intervention, summoning Fajembola, her agent, and representatives of the tenant to their office, where they were allegedly subjected to intimidation and pressure to vacate the property.

Fajembola categorically denies media reports suggesting that she was ever arrested or detained. She maintains that at no time did she claim ownership of the apartment or purport to sell it to anyone. She expressed surprise at recent media publications that imply otherwise.

She clarified that the property was formally handed over to Tunde Ayeni and Olutoyl Estate in April 2025, with her furnishings and house hold appliances still in place, and insists she has moved on. Nonetheless, she alleges that Tunde Ayeni and Olutoyl Estate have resumed efforts to harass and intimidate her, including through police action and media pressure.

The ongoing threats, she said, have made her avoid travelling to Lagos and caused her psychological distress.

Fajembola has taken her grievances before a court of competent jurisdiction, seeking judicial protection against what she describes as unlawful and arbitrary abuse of police powers in a private civil matter.