During proceedings at a High Court in the Federal Capital Territory, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Dr. Ogwu James Onoja, disclosed that a petition was filed against Deputy Inspector General of Police, Frank Mbah, accusing him of obstructing a court judgment in a legal dispute over ownership of land in Abuja.
On Thursday, the Senior lawyer informed Justice M.A Hassan about the alleged interference by the Police Chief in the court’s ruling on June 14, 2023, regarding the ownership of Plot 756, Cadastral Zone Bo7, Katampe District, Abuja, measuring 1.8 Hectares in favor of Ana Rock Global Services Limited, a real estate development company based in Abuja.
The petition, dated April 15, 2024, and signed by George Ibrahim on behalf of the Bar and Bench Chambers, was received by the Inspector General of Police on the same day.
Following the court’s decision, Onoja stated that on January 26, 2024, the Enforcement Unit of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory enforced the judgment by granting possession of the land to Ana Rock Company, which deployed its personnel for security and monitoring on the premises.
According to the senior lawyer, a subsequent attempt was made by Ofi Merchandise Ltd, the former owner of the land, in collaboration with Lifecamp Paradise Ltd, to unlawfully eject Ana Rock Global Services from the property with the help of police officers, including SP Pantami and Yaro Yaro.
Allegedly, DIG Frank Mbah orchestrated these actions, deploying armed policemen from the SWAT office in Garki, Abuja, to forcefully take over the land for Lifecamp Paradise Ltd, despite the presence of Civil Defence officers guarding the premises.
Furthermore, Onoja explained that efforts by security forces, including the Department of State Services, to remove Ana Rock from the property were unsuccessful, leading to a series of confrontations.
Subsequently, officials of Lifecamp Paradise Ltd were detained after attempting to take over the land in defiance of the court order, prompting concerns about the abuse of power and disregard for legal processes by the police.
In responding to the allegations, counsel for Lifecamp Paradise Ltd, Umar Farouk Ocheni, defended the police’s actions, stating that DIG Mbah’s involvement was justified due to an ongoing investigation involving Mark Ogah, the Managing Director of Ana Rock Global Services, and the company.
After the submission by the Senior Advocate, Justice M.A Hassan decided to adjourn further hearings in the case to April 23 for the final arguments.