BATTLE RAGES OVER RIVER PARK ESTATE AS GHANAIAN BUSINESSMAN ACCUSES IGP OF TRYING TO FORCEFULLY TAKE OVER HIS PROPERTY

Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun has been linked to a sinister attempt to steal River Park Estate in Abuja from its Ghanaian owner, Kojo Mensha, following alleged intimidation, harassment and attack on the businessman and his partners amid ongoing ownership dispute.

Mr Mensha, the developers of River Park Estate in Nigeria and his partners sued Mr Egbetokun, the commissioner of police of the FCT, Ajao Saka Adewale, the head of the IGP Monitoring Unit at the Force Headquarters, Akin Fakorede and others for an alleged violation of their fundamental rights amid ongoing ownership dispute over the estate.

Others joined in the suit are the FCT zonal commander of the EFCC, Michael Wetkas, an EFCC investigator, Eunice Vou Dalyop, an ACE 1, and Kabiru Baba, head of EFCC Visa and Migration Fraud Section.

“Upon a proper construction of extant laws, the Defendants are not entitled to interfere with or enforce terms of a purely civil contractual and commercial transaction,” read a 200 million naira lawsuit tagged FHC/ABJ/CS/1130/2025 and dated 10th June, 2025.

The plaintiffs stated that the lawsuit originated from several petitions regarding the alleged trespass and ownership of the estate, prompting Mr Egbetokun to establish a special investigation panel to harmonise and investigate the petitions from different parties.

They accused Mr Egbetokun of failing to release the SIP report despite several letters being written to him, alleging that Mr Fakorede had rather commenced another investigation on the same subject matter in an attempt to alter the report of the 11-member investigation panel.

“As it stands, my (and other plaintiffs’) fundamental rights to dignity of human person, personal liberty, fair hearing, freedom of movement, right to property has (sic) been breached and is (sic) likely to be further breached as the Defendants, particularly 1st and 2nd Defendants who have mandated them to come on 11th June, 2025,” the plaintiff said, noting they had suffered physical distress, financial and psychological trauma due to constant invitation, re-invitation and investigation by the police.

They added, “The third defendants in violation of his oath and gross abuse of power and office as the Commissioner of Police FCT Command, has deployed, without an order of court, a platoon of officers scattered around River Park Estate in the guise of resolving ownership dispute of River Park Estate restrain the plaintiffs, its agents and privies from carrying on development on their properties in the Estate.”

The foundation of River Park Estate dates back to 2007 when Jonah Capital Limited entered into a housing development agreement with the Nigerian government for a 501-hectare estate on Plot 4, Cadastral Zone L05. Its owner, Mr Mensha, was a member of the International Investment Advisory Council under former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Mr Egbetokun did not reply to a request seeking his comment on the matter.

The IGP’s failure to release the SIP report, however, sparked outrage in Ghana as the Concerned Citizens of Ghana took to the streets to condemn alleged victimisation and harassment of Ghanaians and their businesses in Nigeria.

In a video obtained by The Gazette, James Clark, the convener of the protest, reiterated the need for the Nigerian government to provide a safe environment for foreign businesses and foster peaceful collaboration between the two countries.

“We have been living peacefully with our Nigerian brothers and sisters here in Ghana. Our Ghanaian brothers, too, in Nigeria are being harassed. We just want the commissioner to talk to the Nigerian IG, their immigration officers and their president so that everything will be peaceful,” Mr Clark said.

Meanwhile, the Federal High Court, Abuja Division, on Wednesday restrained Mr Egbetokun, Mr Fakorede, the FCT police chief, and others from continuing to violate and obstruct activities in the estate.

In a ruling on an ex parte motion, Justice Obiora Egwuatu ordered the parties not to take any action that would foist a “fait accompli” on the court in the matter.

Mr Egwuatu scheduled June 26 for the commencement of the hearing on the land dispute.

People’s Gazette