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Lagos policemen, sheriffs invade house, destroy N500m property

Published

4 years ago

August 5, 2022

Scenes of the incident

A Lagos-based lawyer, Amanda Asagba, has decried the invasion of her home on Nduka Osadebey Street, Ajao Estate, Lagos State, by armed security agents, including sheriffs and policemen.

PUNCH Metro gathered that the men claimed to be acting on an order of the High Court of Lagos, Ikeja.

Asagba, who spoke to our correspondent on Thursday, said the officials forcefully ejected her family and destroyed assets worth over N500m.

The lawyer, who is the Principal Partner of Amanda and D. Asagba Chambers, claimed to have been living in the house for the past 25 years, adding that all her property titles were uncontested.

She said, “On Thursday, July 28, around 8.45am, I heard someone shouting from my room upstairs. I came downstairs and saw some men and I asked them how they came into my house; they told me that they had been knocking but no one answered.

“One of the men told me that they were from the state high court and they had a judgment against me. It left me confused because I didn’t have any matter against anyone; I told them this, but they shunned me.

“I even told them that maybe they were in the wrong place but they refused. I later asked for their court warrant. When they showed it to me, I saw that my name was not there and I called their attention to it, but they said that my name did not have to be there and that I was a trespasser.

“In the midst of all the argument, my daughters came out. They pushed all of us out and started taking out all our things. They threw out everything in the house except some things they couldn’t take out.

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“They didn’t even allow me to make a phone call. We did not even know if they were armed robbers or something. Some of the men wore sheriff uniform; some were in mufti and others were heavily armed police officers who also had tear gas canisters. They were over 100 and the ones who entered the house were about 40.

“They only let me take a picture of the court warrant of possession after they had ransacked my residence and thrown everything out. Even the name on the warrant happened to be my neighbour, who was next door and whose property was seized two years ago.

“We were never served any papers prior to the incident; we never received any court papers from anyone, so it was a shocker. Our entire property was scattered and even when the rain was drizzling, they still threw everything out.”

Our correspondent sighted the purported court document brought by the sheriffs.

The undated document threatened that the defendants in the matter, Mr C.C. Emina and two others, would be liable to pay the sheriff a fee of “two shilling or twenty kobo duty for keeping possession of property and also the reasonable expenses of any of the feeding animal until expenses is paid or property is sold.”

Asagba, in a letter to the Chief Judge of Lagos State, Kazeem Alogba, dated July 29, 2022, described her experience as “most harrowing and traumatic.”

The letter stated, “We were not a party to the said suit and the purported execution was a wrongful invasion of our privacy and residential homes. The incident caused us the worst form of physical, psychological, emotional trauma and likely consequential future health effects – as we have lost sleep since the incident.

“We have our purchase receipts, survey plans, approved building plans and other statutory payments in respect of the said property herein attached. We have made enquiries from the court and we were able to discover that there was no judgement in suit no ID/2469/93 — Mr Kenneth Gbagi vs Mr C.C. Emina and two others, therefore, the issuance and execution of notice of attachment on our property for goods and chattels in respect of that suit is illegal and unjustifiable.”

Asagba told our correspondent that she was suspecting a suspected land grabber of sponsoring the execution, adding that two years earlier, the man seized her neighbour’s property to build a gas station on the estate.

“We reported it to the government and he was stopped from building the gas station. He, however, resisted with area boys. I was told that the man came to our estate to look at the houses on the street and now, the same judgment that was used to claim my neighbours’ house is the same judgment he used for all of us that had our houses taken,” she added.

The Public Relations Officer of the Lagos State Ministry of Justice, Grace Aloh, said she was not aware of the incident.

She said, “I am not aware of it.”

Related Topics:House Lagos policemen property sheriffs

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Driver of Emir Sanusi’s Wife Remanded Over Alleged ₦60 Million Jewellery Theft in Kano

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3 hours ago

April 1, 2026

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Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II

Driver of Emir Sanusi’s Wife Remanded Over Alleged ₦60 Million Jewellery Theft in Kano

A Kano Magistrate Court has remanded a driver and two accomplices over the alleged theft of jewellery, cash, and a mobile phone belonging to the wife of Muhammadu Sanusi II. The case has drawn widespread attention in Kano State due to the high-profile nature of the individuals involved.

The defendants—Sulaiman Yakubu Kulkude, Idris Musa, and Abdullahi Usaini—were arraigned on three counts of conspiracy, theft, and receiving stolen property before Magistrate Halilu Abdurahman at the Nomansland Magistrates’ Court in Fagge LGA.

Prosecuting counsel Barrister Abubakar Ibrahim told the court that Sulaiman Yakubu, the driver to the Emir’s wife, unlawfully entered her room and took jewellery valued at ₦60 million, alongside cash and a mobile phone.

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When the charges were read, Sulaiman pleaded guilty to all counts, while Musa and Usaini pleaded not guilty, accused of involvement in handling or receiving the stolen items.

Defence counsel, Barrister A.A. Abdullahi, filed a bail application for the defendants. In his ruling, Magistrate Abdurahman granted bail under strict conditions, requiring each defendant to provide a surety who must be either a father or brother, a civil servant of at least Grade Level 15, and a bail sum of ₦10 million each.

The court adjourned the case to April 14 for further hearing, with the defendants remanded pending fulfilment of their bail conditions.

The alleged theft has raised questions about security and trust within high-profile households. Authorities are conducting further investigations, including gathering forensic evidence, interviewing witnesses, and determining if more accomplices were involved.

This incident occurs amid heightened public interest in the Kano Emirate, one of Nigeria’s most prominent traditional institutions. Legal experts say the case will be closely watched due to its potential implications for palace security and household trust.

Driver of Emir Sanusi’s Wife Remanded Over Alleged ₦60 Million Jewellery Theft in Kano

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Plateau: JNI Confirms 4 Members Killed, 10 Missing as Death Toll Rises to 27

Published

3 hours ago

April 1, 2026

Trends Admin

Plateau State Commissioner of Police, Emmanuel Olugbemiga Adesina

Plateau: JNI Confirms 4 Members Killed, 10 Missing as Death Toll Rises to 27

The Plateau State chapter of Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) has confirmed that four of its members were killed and 10 others remain missing following a deadly attack on Angwan Rukuba in Jos North Local Government Area on Sunday night. The group said its findings were based on reports from Muslim communities in the area.

At least 27 people died in the incident, which was widely condemned by religious and community leaders and heightened fears over recurring violence in central Nigeria. Security sources and eyewitnesses said attackers, reportedly wearing military camouflage and riding motorcycles, stormed the Angwan Rukuba community at around 7:30 p.m., opening fire on residents and triggering widespread panic as people fled for safety.

Initial reports indicated that 14 people were killed at the scene, but the toll rose after critically injured victims later died in the hospital, bringing the total confirmed deaths to 27. Angry youths in the community reacted to the violence by staging protests, blocking major roads, and attacking some motorcycle riders and passengers in retaliation, further complicating the security situation.

In a statement signed by its Secretary, Dr. Salim Musa Umar, the JNI said thorough investigations and community reports revealed that four Muslims were among those killed and that 10 individuals remain unaccounted for. “The bodies of the victims have been identified at the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH), while the ten missing persons remain unaccounted for, with their families having no contact with them since Sunday and their phone numbers switched off,” the statement read.

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The group added that two injured victims are currently receiving treatment at JUTH and that JNI has been in contact with affected families, offering support and prayers. JNI also condoled with the bereaved families, urged residents to remain calm, and commended the government’s efforts to restore order in the aftermath of the attack.

The Plateau State Government, led by Caleb Mutfwang, imposed a 48‑hour curfew in the Jos North LGA as a precaution to prevent further bloodshed and enable security forces to operate more effectively. Additional security personnel were deployed to the area to bolster safety and assist in ongoing investigations.

Security agencies are currently combing nearby bushes and trails in a bid to apprehend the attackers, with combined efforts from the army, police, and paramilitary units. Authorities have also been collecting evidence and speaking to survivors to identify possible motives and networks behind the attack.

The incident is part of a disturbing pattern of violent clashes and gunmen attacks in Plateau State and the wider Middle Belt region, where disputes over land, ethnicity, and resources have fuelled cycles of violence for years. The toll in Plateau has often been underreported in national statistics, and experts say the long‑standing security challenge requires sustained and coordinated intervention from both federal and state security forces.

Religious and community leaders have condemned the attack in the strongest terms, calling on authorities to ensure justice and protect lives and property. A joint statement from JNI, the Jasawa Community Development Association, and local council representatives described the killings as “barbaric and senseless,” urging citizens to uphold peace and avoid retaliatory violence.

The attack, coming on Palm Sunday, has heightened inter‑communal tensions and reignited calls for more effective peace‑building mechanisms in Plateau State, where multiple communities have endured repeated outbreaks of violence over the past decade.

Plateau: JNI Confirms 4 Members Killed, 10 Missing as Death Toll Rises to 27

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Senate President Akpabio Declares Three Seats Vacant, Orders By‑Elections

Published

4 hours ago

April 1, 2026

Trends Admin

Senate President Godswill Akpabio

Senate President Akpabio Declares Three Seats Vacant, Orders By‑Elections

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has officially declared three Senate seats vacant following the deaths of sitting lawmakers, directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct mid-term by‑elections to fill the vacancies. The announcement was made during plenary on Tuesday at the National Assembly in Abuja, with Akpabio describing the loss of the senators as a tragic blow to the legislature.

Citing provisions of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), Akpabio formally declared the following seats vacant: Enugu North Senatorial District (Enugu State), Nasarawa North Senatorial District (Nasarawa State), and Rivers South‑East Senatorial District (Rivers State). He directed INEC to organise by‑elections within the constitutional timeframe of approximately 30 days. “May the souls of our departed colleagues rest in perfect peace,” he prayed.

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The vacancies arise from the deaths of Senators Barinada Mpigi, Godiya Akwashiki, and Okey Ezea, all members of the 10th National Assembly, leaving their constituents temporarily unrepresented in the upper chamber. Akpabio emphasised that the by‑elections are crucial for restoring full representation in the Senate and ensuring that the affected districts continue to have a voice in national legislation.

The Senate also adjourned plenary until April 21 for the Easter break, allowing lawmakers a recess before resuming duties and facilitating preparations for the elections. Political parties are expected to begin mobilising candidates and campaign strategies ahead of the by-elections, which will be closely monitored as indicators of public sentiment ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Experts note that these by‑elections will test the strength of political parties in the affected regions—Enugu North, Nasarawa North, and Rivers South‑East—and may influence regional political alignments in the run-up to the next general elections. The declaration also reinforces the constitutional mandate that vacant legislative seats be filled promptly to maintain a functioning democracy.

The move underscores the importance of timely electoral processes and adherence to constitutional provisions, while also paying tribute to the late senators for their contributions to national governance. As INEC prepares for the by‑elections, voters in the affected districts can expect a fully coordinated electoral process to restore representation in the Nigerian Senate.