The Rivers State Police Command has stated that the execution of a court judgment concerning land at Victory Estate, Rumuosi, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, was halted after objections by residents, and an investigation into the conflicting claims has been ordered.
The Command, in a statement by its Police Public Relations Officer, Agabe Kaborlo, on Monday, revealed this while reacting to a social media video alleging that the Commissioner of Police (CP) Olugbenga Adepoju grabbed or facilitated the grab of land belonging to residents of Victory Estate.
The Command stated that the Commissioner received a request on 6 March 2025, from O. S. Obior, Esq., on behalf of Kirigust Global Resources Nigeria Limited, seeking police protection to enable the enforcement of a court judgment in Suit No. CCC/22/2015, between Col. Ogwumerum Eke and others.
It said that the request was sent to the Department of Operations and Police Legal Section for verification, while the Customary Court, Choba, confirmed on 21 March 2025 that the judgment was valid and that there was no pending appeal or stay of execution.
It stated that police personnel were deployed on 7 and 8 April 2025, on a security detail for the court bailiff, with instructions that the police should not be involved in the actual execution of the judgment.
However, the Command said that the residents of Victory Estate objected to the execution, arguing that while they did not dispute the validity of the judgment, the judgment related to land in Rumuagholu Community and did not cover their property in Victory Estate, Rumuosi.
The Commissioner, the Command stated, immediately halted the execution and asked the Police Legal Section to investigate the conflicting claims.
The Command said that relevant parties were invited to present their cases, while the disputed location was inspected, and photographs of damaged properties were taken as part of the investigation.
It stated that the Certified True Copy of the judgment, as well as the dispute survey/site plan, were obtained from the Customary Court, Choba, and sent to the Surveyor-General of Rivers State for charting and geo-location.
The Surveyor-General, the Command stated, confirmed that the area outlined in the survey/site plan was in the Rumuagholu Community and did not include Victory Estate, Rumuosi.
The Command then concluded that while the judgment in Suit No. CCC/22/2015 was valid and had no appeal or stay of execution, it did not cover the property in Victory Estate, making its execution on the disputed property wrongful.
The investigation also unveiled criminal offences relating to the wrongful execution, for which Col. Ogwumerum Eke, Chief Mike Oyakire, Prince Chima Kelechi, Samuel Chike and others have been recommended for prosecution.
The Command stated that the Force Headquarters, Abuja, investigated the matter and reportedly reached similar conclusions.
The Command also stated that a nine-count charge, marked PHC/3683/CR/2025, was filed before the High Court of Rivers State against Col. Ogwumerum Eke and others at large.
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The police maintained that the CP Adepoju neither grabbed, acquired, nor took possession of any land belonging to Victory Estate, Rumuosi, stating that his involvement was limited to providing security detail for the court bailiff after the judgment had been verified.
The Command also stated that Suit No. PHC/1467/FHR/2026, instituted by Col. Ogwumerum Eke and three others against the Nigeria Police Force and other defendants, is currently before the Rivers State High Court.
It stated that it would leave the determination of the issues before the court to the court.
The Command further warned all police officers in Rivers State against engaging in any land-related enforcement activities without proper authorisation and legal clearance, stating that land matters were civil cases and should be resolved in the courts.
It urged members of the public to report any police officer engaging in unauthorized land-related activities to the nearest police station or the Complaint Response Unit at 07057605209, 07057605256, 08120822987 or 07072323049.
The Command reiterated its commitment to the rule of law, professionalism, impartiality, and respect for human rights, and urged members of the public to verify information before circulating it on social media or other platforms, as the police would prosecute anyone disseminating false information capable of defaming individuals or organisations.
