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Outcry As IGP Egbetokun Allegedly Connives To Steal Abuja’s River Park Estate From Ghanaian Businessman

BySodiq Lawal

PublishedJune 19, 2025

There has been an outcry following fresh allegations linking the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to an attempt to allegedly forcefully take over River Park Estate, a high-profile residential development in Abuja, from its Ghanaian owner, Mr. Kojo Mensha.

According to court documents seen by Peoples Gazette and filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja, Mr Mensha, alongside his partners and developers of the 501-hectare estate, accused the IGP, the FCT Commissioner of Police, Ajao Saka Adewale, and the head of the IGP Monitoring Unit, Akin Fakorede, of harassment, intimidation, and unlawful interference in a civil ownership dispute.

The plaintiffs claim their fundamental rights have been repeatedly violated, with police presence deployed around the estate without any court order.

Also joined in the suit are several officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), including Zonal Commander Michael Wetkas, investigator Eunice Vou Dalyop, and head of the Visa and Migration Fraud Section, Kabiru Baba.

The suit, tagged FHC/ABJ/CS/1130/2025, demands ₦200 million in damages for what the plaintiffs described as physical distress, financial losses, and psychological trauma stemming from constant invitations, re-invitations, and unrelenting investigations.

The plaintiffs alleged that a Special Investigation Panel (SIP) set up by Mr Egbetokun to probe the matter had concluded its work, but the IGP failed to release the report.

Instead, Mr Fakorede reportedly initiated a fresh investigation, fuelling suspicion of an internal effort to suppress the findings and manipulate the outcome.

“The Defendants are not entitled to interfere with or enforce terms of a purely civil contractual and commercial transaction,” the plaintiffs argued, maintaining that the actions of the police and EFCC amounted to abuse of office and blatant disregard for the rule of law.

The controversy has sparked protests in Accra, where members of the Concerned Citizens of Ghana took to the streets, denouncing what they described as targeted harassment of Ghanaian nationals in Nigeria.

Speaking in a video obtained by The Gazette, convener James Clark urged the Nigerian government to respect foreign investments and uphold bilateral relations.

“Our Ghanaian brothers in Nigeria are being harassed. We urge the Nigerian authorities to act with justice,” he said.

River Park Estate, located in Plot 4, Cadastral Zone L05, was born out of a 2007 housing agreement between the Federal Government and Jonah Capital Limited, founded by Mr Mensha, who once served on the International Investment Advisory Council under former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Meanwhile, Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court on Wednesday issued an interim order restraining Mr Egbetokun, Mr Fakorede, and others from taking any further actions that could complicate the dispute or create a fait accompli.

The matter has been adjourned to June 26 for hearing.

As of press time, Mr Egbetokun had yet to respond to a request for comment.

Source: Peoples Gazette

Sodiq Lawal

Sodiq Lawal is a passionate and dedicated journalist with a knack for uncovering captivating stories in the bustling metropolis of Osun State and Nigeria at large. He has a versatile reporting style, covering a wide range of topics, from politics , campus, and social issues to arts and culture, seeking impact in all facets of the society.