An Anambra State businessman, Mr Jeff Nweke has dragged the state commissioner of Police, CP Aderemi Adeoye to court.
The businessman and security expert is asking for compensation for damages to the tune of N28.7million, over encroachment into his property located at Four Way Court Estate, Awka, and also praying the court to restrain the commissioner from further deploying armed men to the property.
In a matter filed before the High Court of Anambra State, in suit number A/401/2023, Nweke listed Inspector Monday Umana, DCP Akin Fakorede and CP Aderemi Adeoye as first, second and third defendants.
He narrated that his property where he was developing his personal residence was invaded by armed policemen led by the first defendant, on the order of the second and third defendants.
In the suit filed on his behalf by G.U Muoneke Esq, Nweke said police personnel invaded the property, arrested operatives of Blue Shield Security outfit, owned by him, and also caused work on the site to be stalled. While most equipments in the site were damaged, other materials such as cement meant for the construction were allowed to congeal.
The suit read: “The plaintiff avers that on September 27, 2023 the 2nd and 3rd defendants through their agents who were led by the 1st defendant forced themselves into the duty post of the men of the Blue Shield Security at the Four Way Court Estate and arrested some of the men.
“The arrested men were detained at the State CID and later released on the intervention of well meaning Nigerians, but their arms which were registered by the police were not returned till date.
“Since then, the men of the third defendant have been entering the land with bulldozer and destroying the things the private security men were securing, despite being informed that the matter was in court.
“The plaintiff and other developers in the Four Way Court Estate have been denied access into their personal properties by the 3rd defendant, through their agents.”
While claiming damages of N10million, the plaintiff added that building materials and equipments stored at the site, which were damaged, including a trailer road of cement containing 1,800 bags, machines, doors were worth N18.7million, bringing it to a total of N28.7million.
The plaintiff also prayed the court to issue “a perpetual injunction restraining the defendants either by themselves or acting in concert with other persons and or through their agents from further trespass on the plaintiff ‘s parcel of land.