Group Petitions CJN, IGP Over Alleged Illegal Raid on Admiral Porbeni’s Property by LGSG

Group Petitions CJN, IGP Over Alleged Illegal Raid on Admiral Porbeni’s Property by LGSG

JOEL OLADELE, Abuja 

A group under the aegis of Good Governance Alliance – Nigeria (GGA-N), has petitioned the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) and Inspector General of Police (IGP), over what it described as an illegal raid on the property belonging to former Minister of Transportation, Admiral Festus Porbeni (Rtd), by the Lagos State government (LGSG).

In a petition signed by Nathaniel Obasi, for the group, a copy of which was sighted by National Periscope on Friday, the Lagos State Government was accused of flouting a Federal High Court order during the raid on the said property, located on Wole Olateju Crescent in Lekki.

The petition stated that it was reportedly invaded on Friday morning by officials from the Lagos State Special Task Force, accompanied by heavily-armed mobile policemen.

The raid ís coming in the wake of a Federal High Court injunction (FHC/L/CS/1384/21) that expressly prohibited the Lagos State government from entering Admiral Porbeni’s property or harassing anyone there.

Obasi, however noted that the task force violently confronted individuals present on the premises.

“The Lagos State Special Task Force accompanied by heavily-armed mobile policemen, beat up, arrested and threw staff and other people met on the property into a black maria they brought for the illegal raid. The officials who cordoned off the area are now threatening to bulldoze all structures on the property, in brazen breach of the Federal High Court order (FHC/L/CS/1384/21),” Obasi lamented.

Furthermore, a recent Supreme Court ruling has upheld the federal government’s exclusive control over inland waterways and lands within 100 meters of declared federal waterways, further complicating the state’s position in the case.

Obasi, expressed deep concern over the invasion, noting the implications of such actions on the rule of law. 

“At about 7:30am, officials from the Lagos State Special Task Force, illegally forced their way into Admiral Porbeni’s property at Wole Olateju Crescent, Lekki, despite the Federal High Court order, barring these agents from entering the premises or harassing any persons at the premises. 

“The question is despite Admiral Porbeni being in possession of a Federal Certificate of Occupancy (CofO), how is the Lagos State Government allowed to flout not only an injunction from the Federal High Court but also a ruling from the Supreme Court?” Obasi stated. 

GGA-N therefore called on CJN, IGP and other relevant authorities for urgent intervention, stating the need for accountability. 

“The Lagos state government’s brazen disobedience of court orders is a recipe for lawlessness and chaos. We draw the urgent attention of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Inspector General of Police, the Governor of Lagos state and relevant federal government agencies in charge of federal waterways in the country to the illegal raid and occupation by the Lagos State Special Task Force,” Obasi asserted.