MICHAEL AKINOLA
A Lagos-based real estate practitioner, Alhaji Akeem Osuolale, has reacted to a press statement credited to the Zone 2 Police Command, Onikan, Lagos, over a disputed property in the Lekki area of the state.
In his reaction, Alhaji Osuolale said he was concerned about the description used for him in the statement, which he said referred to him as a notorious land grabber.
The businessman said the description was, in his view, unfair and damaging to his reputation, and he is calling on the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 2 to provide evidence to support the claim.
According to him, he has never been arrested, charged, or convicted for any offence relating to land grabbing in Lagos State or any other part of Nigeria.
Alhaji Osuolale said: “My attention has been drawn to media reports from a press statement from the AIG in charge of Zone 2, where I was described as a notorious land grabber.”
He added: “I would have ignored it and allowed the law to take its course, but I must challenge the AIG to point at any case of land grabbing against me.”
The businessman further alleged that he has received information suggesting that there are attempts to arrest him in connection with his public reaction to the police statement. *P.M. EXPRESS* has not independently verified this claim.
He said he is not a criminal and should not be hunted, adding that his life has been under threat since the dispute over the Lekki property became public.
Alhaji Osuolale said his business transactions and dealings are documented with the appropriate authorities in the Lagos State Government, and he invited the police to verify his records.
He said: “The records of my transactions and dealings are with the appropriate authorities in the Lagos State Government and the AIG can go and verify that.”
“I hereby challenge the AIG to come out and mention one or two instances where I have grabbed people’s land in Lagos or any other part of Nigeria,” he added.
The businessman also called on the Inspector-General of Police to set up an independent panel to investigate the matter.
He said: “I want the IGP to set up a panel to investigate the fresh accusations against me by the AIG.”
“It is unbecoming of a senior police officer to malign the name of a law-abiding citizen of the country, just because of his interest in a disputed land,” he added, according to his statement.
Alhaji Osuolale said he remains ready to cooperate with any lawful investigation, but he wants the process to be fair and transparent.
He urged the police authorities to allow the courts and relevant agencies to determine ownership of the disputed Lekki property, rather than resorting to public statements.
He also appealed to the police leadership to ensure that his fundamental rights are protected while the matter is being resolved.
As of the time of filing this report, the Zone 2 Police Command has not issued a fresh response to the claims made by Alhaji Osuolale.
P.M. EXPRESS notes that the claims made by the businessman are his personal views. The allegations against the police have not been independently verified, and the police side of the story will be published when it is made available.