Residents of Ottasona Estate have accused Segun Oniru of allegedly using police officers to intimidate and harass them following a prolonged dispute over access to the estate.
In a press statement issued on Wednesday, September 9, the residents alleged that seven police officers who identified themselves as personnel of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), Alagbon, entered the estate at about 7am.
According to the residents, the officers said they had come to “invite” them to the station over four alleged offences, including criminal damage and threat to life.
The residents said they requested a warrant or written invitation but claimed the officers were unable to produce either document.
The statement further alleged that an officer identified as ASP Sunday seized the phone of one of the residents after the individual began recording the incident and identified himself as a journalist.
The residents claimed the officer later returned the phone after allegedly requesting that the video be deleted.
They further alleged that ASP Sunday subsequently seized the phone for a second time while the resident was making notes about the incident.
According to the residents, the officer retained the phone for about an hour to 90 minutes and was allegedly seen attempting to access it. They also claimed the device was taken to the rear of the police vehicle before it was eventually handed to the DPO of Maroko Police Station, who returned it to its owner.
The residents said they could not ascertain whether the phone had been tampered with while it was in police custody.
They also alleged that the officers were accompanied by some individuals described as “thugs” linked to the ongoing dispute.
The residents said they later proceeded to Oniru Police Station, where they were allegedly informed that the matter was being handled by Maroko Police Station.
They further claimed that the DPO at Oniru informed them that the Oba of Oniru was aware of the matter and had written to the DPO, with Segun Oniru allegedly invited for questioning.
According to the residents, the invitation had reportedly been delivered to Oniru’s residence three weeks earlier and also sent to his WhatsApp account, but they alleged that he was yet to respond.
The latest development is linked to a longstanding dispute between the residents and Segun Oniru over the estate’s gate.
The residents said they previously obtained a court judgment against what they described as Oniru’s “unlawful action” after the estate’s gate was allegedly locked for nine weeks, from June 22 until August 24, when the judgment was obtained.
They alleged that within three to four hours of reopening the gate following the judgment, individuals they identified as Oniru’s men returned and locked it again.
The residents said they subsequently removed the lock and reopened the gate, arguing that the action was contrary to the court judgment.
They have now accused Oniru of allegedly using the police to continue intimidating residents, claiming that his men accompanied the officers during Wednesday morning’s operation.
The residents also alleged that the matter is currently before the court and accused the Alagbon police of failing to respect the ongoing legal proceedings.
They specifically named Taiwo Oyewale of the Alagbon CID/Legal Department, alleging that the officers were acting on her instructions.
The residents said the alleged harassment had continued in different forms and that they had been forced to engage armed security personnel to protect residents inside and outside the estate.
The allegations contained in the statement have not been independently verified, and it was not immediately clear whether the police or Segun Oniru had responded to the residents’ claims.
