Abuja Developer Accuses Police of Unlawful Arrest in Land Dispute

An Abuja property developer, Mr. Sally Biose, has petitioned the Police Service Commission (PSC), alleging unlawful arrest, intimidation, and continued police interference in a land dispute currently before several courts.

In a petition dated February 16, 2026, addressed to PSC Chairman DIG Hashimu Salihu Argungu (RTD), Mr. Biose accused ASP Samuel Ugbanawaji of the IGP Monitoring Unit, Abuja, and other police officers of violating his fundamental rights and meddling in ongoing civil and criminal litigation.

The petition states that Mr. Biose was arrested in Asaba, Delta State, on February 15, 2026, despite not being named in any criminal charges relating to the disputed property. His legal team claims the arrest ignored existing court proceedings and flouted police directives against involvement in land disputes.

Mr. Biose’s lawyers allege that the police action is tied to a long-running dispute involving Bonatec Nigeria Limited and former Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha, with multiple cases pending before the High Courts and the Court of Appeal in Abuja.

They also claim that on October 14, 2024, police officers led by ASP Ugbanawaji supervised the demolition of Mr. Biose’s property without authorization from either the Development Control Department or the FCT High Court’s enforcement unit. Both agencies later distanced themselves from the action.

Despite ongoing litigation, the petition alleges continued harassment and arrests of individuals connected to the dispute, including parties not listed in any charges. Mr. Biose has also filed a fundamental rights enforcement suit against the police, which remains pending before the FCT High Court.

The petition further accuses senior officers, including a serving Commissioner of Police, of ignoring repeated PSC directives to halt investigations and intimidation in the dispute. Legal representatives urged the PSC to discipline the officers involved, warning that police interference in civil land disputes could erode public confidence in the force.

As of press time, the PSC and Nigeria Police Force had not responded to the allegations.