Lagos Court Rejects 83-Year-Old's Bid to Block Police Investigation
The Lagos State High Court in Ikeja has dismissed a fundamental rights enforcement suit brought by 83-year-old Laura Okoh. Mrs. Okoh had requested the court to stop the Nigeria Police Force from inviting or arresting her in relation to criminal allegations filed by musician Uche Ibeto, popularly known as Jigida Queen.
Presiding Judge Russell Adewale ruled that Mrs. Okoh failed to prove that her personal liberty or dignity had been violated, or were under threat of violation, by the police. The court declined the request for an injunction against the Inspector-General of Police, the Police Service Commission, and the Nigeria Police Force Zone 2 Command in Onikan.
In the judgment delivered on June 17, the judge stated that the courts cannot prevent the police from performing their statutory and constitutional duties, which include investigating criminal complaints when the allegations justify such an inquiry.
The legal battle is part of a larger conflict over the estate of the late Esther Ibeto. The dispute centers on the eviction of Ms. Ibeto from a family residence located at 36 Ibezim Obiajulu Street in Surulere.
According to police reports, the investigation involves allegations of forgery, perjury, impersonation, conspiracy, and the malicious destruction of property. Investigators are specifically examining claims that a court judgment intended for a different property in Agege was used to unlawfully evict the occupants of the Surulere home.
While the Nigeria Police Force confirmed the ongoing probe into the letters of administration and court documents used during the eviction, no individuals had been formally charged in connection with the matter as of February.
