Adamakin Sues IG and others
A Lagos based chief and philanthropist Akinfolabi Akindele, has dragged the Inspector General of Police before the Federal High Court over alleged unlawful arrest and extortion. The suit marked FHC/L/CS/2183/2023, accuses senior police officers of forcing him to pay ₦2 million before he was released on bail.
Chief Akindele is asking the court to award him ₦50 million in damages. He said the money is for the pain, embarrassment and trauma he suffered. He also wants the court to declare that his rights were violated.
The case is linked to a long-running land dispute over the historic Madam Efunroye Tinubu Estate in Lagos. The chief insists the matter is purely civil and should not involve the police. He said the police turned a land disagreement into a criminal issue.
The defendants in the suit include the Inspector General of Police, the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Force CID Alagbon, ACP Ngozi Conchita Braide, and the Police Service Commission.
According to court papers, the chief was invited to the Force Criminal Investigation Department in Alagbon, Lagos. He said he was later detained and pressured to “settle” the matter.
He alleged that he was only released after paying ₦2 million through a Point of Sale machine. The payment was allegedly made inside the police facility.
Chief Akindele described the payment as a ransom, not bail. He said bail is free under Nigerian law and should not attract any charge.
The chief also accused ACP Ngozi Conchita Braide of interfering in a land matter that should be decided by a court. He claimed she acted beyond her powers.
His lawyers argued that the Tinubu Estate dispute dates back many years and has historical backing. They said there are existing court decisions on the land, including old judgments that settled its boundaries.
The suit also faulted the Police Service Commission for failing to supervise the officers involved. The chief believes the commission allowed the officers to act without proper control.
Court documents show that civil cases over the same land are still pending. The plaintiff said using the police while court cases are ongoing amounts to intimidation.
To support his claims, the chief filed bank records and other documents before the court. He said the POS transaction can be traced and verified.
Legal observers in Lagos are watching the case closely because of the history attached to the Tinubu Estate. Many believe the outcome could affect other land disputes in the state.
The police are expected to respond with their defence in the coming weeks. In the meantime, Chief Akindele has vowed to pursue the case to the end, saying he will not be silenced or intimidated.