Amuwo family urges police to conclude FESTAC land probe

The Kuje Amuwo Chieftaincy Family has pleaded with the Nigeria Police Force to wrap up its probe into allegations stemming from a prolonged land dispute over a substantial parcel of land surrounding the 6th and 7th Avenue zones of FESTAC Extension, Amuwo-Odofin, Lagos. The family lodged the request in a petition to the Inspector-General of Police, which confirmed it had been forwarded for investigation.

An inspector is currently overseeing the case. However, the family expressed worry that despite the investigation's start, no resolution has been reached, urging the police to hasten the process and share their findings with all parties involved. The family claims that the Lagos State Task Force on Land Matters has engaged in practices they described as harassment, intimidation, and interference with the property's activities.

They also alleged that the task force was being utilized by the Federal Housing Authority and other entities connected to the land. The dispute arose from land acquired by the Federal Government during the 1977 Festival of Arts and Culture, commonly known as FESTAC. The family stated that a charting exercise conducted by the Office of the Surveyor-General of the Federation revealed that 4.017 hectares of the disputed land fell under the Federal Housing Authority's claimed territory.

The family, however, asserted that the remaining area belonged to them. The Federal Ministry of Land, Housing and Urban Development had handed over the unused section of the land to the family in December 2010. The family reported that subsequent attempts by alleged trespassers to trespass on the property led to litigation. The Federal High Court in Lagos issued an interlocutory injunction on February 29, 2016, and subsequently granted them possession of the land on May 25, 2016.

The family said the dispute then proceeded through the appellate courts before being transferred to the Lagos State High Court for a retrial. They also mentioned that restraining orders and injunctions related to activities on the property remained in effect. The Kuje Amuwo family requested that the parties and relevant government agencies respect the judicial process and avoid actions that could interfere with the proceedings.

They urged the IGP and the Police Monitoring Unit in Obalende to conclude the investigation and disclose its findings. The family emphasized that the extended investigation has only increased the uncertainty surrounding a case that has been in court for several years. They also appealed for an end to what they termed as harassment and interference with legitimate activities near the property pending the case's resolution.

The family called for the dismantling of a makeshift office allegedly set up at the entrance of Early Life Gate. They urged the Federal Housing Authority and other parties involved to pursue their claims through lawful means instead of resorting to self-help. They maintained that a prompt conclusion of the police investigation, coupled with the resolution of the ongoing court proceedings, would help clarify the issues surrounding the disputed land.