By Dennis Okechukwu
Prominent lawyer, Dr. Benson Enikuomehin, has petitioned the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 2 Command, Onikan, Lagos, over the alleged intimidation and harassment of his client, Mr. Olasimbo Popoola, by officers attached to Ilado Police Post and Alakija Police Station.
In the petition, Enikuomehin accused Supol Razaki Bashiru and Mr. Eki Paulinus of carrying out unlawful arrests and intimidation at the instance of Mr. Abiye Akinmuleya, who allegedly claims to be the Baale of Ita-Agan community in Lagos State.
The petition, signed by Peter Adejoh Esq. of Benson Enikuomehin & Co. Chambers, also hinted at a possible legal action against the police officers and other persons involved if the Zone 2 Command fails to intervene and curb what the chambers described as illegal activities by the officers.
According to the petition:
“We are solicitors to Mr. Olasimbo Popoola (hereinafter referred to as ‘our client’), on whose mandate and express instruction we address this letter to your exalted office for urgent attention.
“Our client is a fisherman who resides at Iton-Agan community, opposite Liverpool Jetty, in Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area of Lagos State.
“Our brief is that one Mr. Abiye Akinmuleya has constituted himself a menace to the peaceful coexistence between our client and other community leaders in Iton-Agan community.
“He enjoys the constant patronage and support of the police at Ilado Police Post and Alakija Police Station.
“He has constantly and consistently used the police to harass and intimidate law-abiding citizens in the community without any just cause.
“The said Abiye Akinmuleya prides himself as the Baale of Iton-Agan community and compels everyone to pay obeisance to him, failure of which he allegedly invites officers from Ilado Police Post and Alakija Police Station to arrest such persons.
“This has become his stock-in-trade. In particular, he allegedly uses Supol Razaki Bashiru, whose telephone number is 08033961313, and one Mr. Eki Paulinus to carry out these activities.
“On Saturday, May 9, 2026, this power-driven Abiye Akinmuleya allegedly went to our client’s house and caused the destruction of shops being constructed by our client.
“The shops were attached to our client’s property. Without provocation, Mr. Akinmuleya allegedly approached his associates in the police to stop the construction and threatened to arrest our client.
“Our law office wrote a letter addressed to Mr. Akinmuleya on May 11, 2026, and copied the police, informing them of the need to steer clear of land matters.
“When our client resumed construction of the shops on May 13, 2026, Supol Razaki Bashiru of Ilado Police Post allegedly arrived at the site, stopped the work and served our client with an invitation to report at the Area Command, Alakija.”
The lawyers further expressed concern over what they described as the continued misuse of police powers despite repeated trainings and directives from the police high command.
“We are worried that despite the training, retraining and teachings given by the police high command to officers and rank-and-file personnel, many officers, as exemplified by those at Ilado Police Post, have refused to imbibe the tenets of decency and responsibility.
“They have constituted themselves into tools of oppression for unscrupulous individuals such as Abiye Akinmuleya, who can allegedly induce them with little sums of money to act against peace-loving citizens.
“We are considering the option of filing appropriate actions in court against the police and all persons involved in this sordid act. However, as conscientious legal practitioners, we consider it necessary to first bring these facts to your attention so that the erring officers can be called to order urgently.
“The police have absolutely nothing to do with adjudication of land matters, let alone obstructing and arresting a man constructing shops in front of his own house and on his land.
“We therefore urge you, sir, to take over the investigation of this matter and appropriately caution the excesses of the officers at Ilado Police Post and Alakija Area Command,” the petition added.