Rivers Police Deny Land-Grabbing Allegation Against CP Adepoju
The Nigeria Police Force, Rivers State Command has dismissed allegations that the state’s Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju, grabbed or facilitated the grabbing of land belonging to residents of Victory Estate, Rumuosi, in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area.
The Command, in a statement dated Monday September 21, 2026, and signed by its Police Public Relations Officer, Agabe Blessing, said the allegation circulating on social media is false and misleading. According to the Police, the matter began on March 6, 2025, when the Commissioner received an application from O. S. Obior, Esq., on behalf of Kirigust Global Resources Nigeria Limited, requesting police protection for a court bailiff to execute a judgment in Suit No. CCC/22/2015 — Col. Ogwumerum Eke & Anor. v. Chief Friday Ibeabuchi Anya & Ors.
The Command said the application was referred to the Department of Operations and subsequently to the Police Legal Section for verification. It explained that the Customary Court, Choba, confirmed on March 21, 2025, that the judgment was valid and that there was no pending appeal or stay of execution.
The Police further stated that its personnel were consequently deployed on April 7 and 8, 2025, solely to provide security for the court bailiff, with specific instructions that the officers should not participate physically in the execution. However, during the execution, residents of Victory Estate, Rumuosi, reportedly objected, arguing that although they did not dispute the validity of the judgment, the judgment concerned land in Rumuagholu Community and did not cover their property in Victory Estate.
The Command said CP Adepoju immediately halted the execution and directed the Police Legal Section to investigate the conflicting claims. It added that all relevant parties were invited, the disputed location was inspected, and photographs of damaged properties were obtained.
The Police further disclosed that it obtained the Certified True Copy of the judgment and the dispute survey/site plan from the Customary Court, Choba, and forwarded the documents to the Surveyor-General of Rivers State for charting and geo-location. According to the Command, the Surveyor-General subsequently confirmed that the area covered by the survey/site plan was within Rumuagholu Community and did not include Victory Estate, Rumuosi.
The Police therefore said its investigation established that while the judgment in Suit No. CCC/22/2015 was valid and had no pending appeal or stay of execution, it did not extend to Victory Estate, Rumuosi, making the execution of the judgment on the property wrongful. The Command said the investigation also disclosed alleged criminal offences arising from the wrongful execution and that persons including Col. Ogwumerum Eke, Chief Mike Oyakire, Prince Chima Kelechi and Samuel Chike, among others, were recommended for prosecution.
It added that Force Headquarters, Abuja, also investigated the matter and reportedly arrived at similar findings. The Police said a nine-count charge, No. PHC/3683/CR/2025, was subsequently filed before the Rivers State High Court against Col. Ogwumerum Eke and others at large.
The Command maintained that CP Adepoju neither grabbed, acquired nor took possession of any land belonging to Victory Estate, Rumuosi, stressing that his involvement was limited to granting police protection to a court bailiff after the judgment had been verified. It said the Commissioner halted the execution immediately after objections were raised by residents and ordered an investigation, which established that the judgment did not cover the disputed property.
The Command also acknowledged 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 said the Police would allow the court to determine the issues before it.
The Command further disclosed that police officers in Rivers State had been warned against going to land sites to guard, enforce or execute land-related matters without proper authorisation and legal backing, stressing that land disputes are civil matters for which aggrieved parties should seek redress in court. Members of the public were urged to report any police officer found engaging in unauthorised land-related activities to the nearest police station or the Complaint Response Unit.
The CRU can be reached on 07057605209, 07057605256, 08120822987 and 07072323049.
The Command reaffirmed its commitment to the rule of law, professionalism, impartiality and respect for human rights, while urging members of the public to verify information before circulating allegations capable of misleading the public or damaging reputations.
