Abuja Estate: Ghanaian businessmen accuse IGP monitoring unit of working for private persons, frustrating justice
The Head of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Monitoring Unit, Abuja, DCP Akin Fakorede, has been accused of bias and frustrating justice, as well as illegally stopping work at the River Park Estate in a dispute involving some persons and Ghanaian investors.
Fakorede was accused of siding with the other party against the Ghanaian businessmen, including Kojo Ansah Mensah, the Chief Executive Officer of Houses For Africa.
The IGP Monitoring Unit Head was also accused ignoring the investigation report by the Special Investigation Panel (SIP) led by DCP Usman Ahmed Imam, following multiple petitions.
A top police source said, “Where is the report of the panel and what are the contents of that report? Is Fakorede preparing his own version to suppress the report of the SIP?
“Why is Fakorede claiming Ghanaians forged some documents without interviewing the lawyers who prepared the documents? Why is Fakorede meeting Lawyers of Paul Odili; Adrian Ogunmuyiwa and John Johnson (the other party) in his office to plot against the Ghanaian businessmen?”
A petition earlier published by SaharaReporters, an online news platform, had revealed serious bias and misconduct by officers of the Nigeria Police Force deployed in the River Park Estate in Abuja, accusing them of siding with a private developer, Paulo Homes, in a contentious property dispute.
The letter, dated May 16, 2025, and signed by Kojo Ansah Mensah, Chief Executive Officer of Houses For Africa, was addressed to the Commissioner of Police, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command, and copied to the Acting High Commissioner of the Republic of Ghana, the Inspector-General of Police, and other top police officials.
In the letter titled, “Concerns of Bias by Police Officers Deployed to River Park Estate,” the real estate company expressed outrage over what it described as the police officers’ “conspicuous” presence only on their uncontested land, designated for the Jonah Court project, while abandoning actual contentious plots where stop-work orders had been issued.
“These officers were assigned to maintain peace, prevent any breakdown of law and order, and ensure compliance with the stop-work directive issued by the Special Investigative Panel of the Inspector General of Police on contentious lands in the Estate, specifically Clusters 1A, Sector Center and 5A.”
“However, contrary to their mandate of impartiality, the officers have conspicuously stationed themselves solely on our land designated for the Jonah Court project, which is NOT part of the contentious areas; leaving the Paulo Homes team to continue work unimpeded on contentious areas, namely Plots 1A, Sector Centre, and 5A.” the petition had added.
A source said, “The FCT Commander should explain why he is using his officers to intimidate Ghanaians and stop them from working. He should also be asked why DPO Tile was removed. Several petitions were written to his office including why Paul Odili is being allowed to work in areas where there are court orders not to work. But he never responded.
The company further alleged that heavy machinery belonging to Paulo Homes was deliberately parked on its uncontested land without any challenge or action from the police officers present.
“What is extremely alarming is that the police officers present have been relocated from all areas of contention in the Estate to our Jonah Court land which is not under contention, leaving the areas under contention namely Sector Center, 5A and 1A unmanned for Paulo Homes to develop in contravention of the orders of the SIP of the IGP,” the letter stated.
Recall that SaharaReporters also reported that the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, was sued before a Federal High Court in Abuja over allegations of intimidation, harassment, and violation of fundamental human rights tied to the controversial land dispute at the prestigious River Park Estate in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The legal action, filed under suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1130/2025, was initiated by directors of JonahCapital Nigeria Limited and their Ghanaian partners under the investment consortium Houses for Africa, including renowned Ghanaian businessman Sir Samuel Esson Jonah, Kojo Ansah Mensah, Victor Quainoo, and their legal counsel, Abu Arome.
Also named as defendants in the suit are the FCT Commissioner of Police, Ajao Saka Adewale; the Head of the IGP Monitoring Unit, DCP Akin Fakorede; EFCC Zonal Commander Michael Wetkas; EFCC investigator Eunice Vou Dalyop; and one Kabiru Baba.
The plaintiffs are demanding N200million in exemplary damages, citing repeated instances of harassment, arbitrary arrests, and the abuse of state power by top law enforcement officials.
According to the claimants, these actions are connected to a contested ownership claim over portions of River Park Estate, an upscale residential development in Abuja.
At the heart of the dispute is an earlier investigation launched by the Inspector-General of Police through a Special Investigation Panel (SIP) led by DCP Usman Ahmed Imam, following multiple petitions.
Recall also that protesters had on Wednesday stormed the Nigerian High Commission in Accra, Ghana’s capital, asking the commissioner to prevail on the President Bola Tinubu-led Nigerian government to intervene in some cases of alleged harassment of Ghanaian businesses in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
The protesters stormed the Nigerian High Commission in Roman Ridge, Accra, with placards, demanding a safe business environment for Ghanaian businesses while referencing harassments by the Nigerian Police Force.
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