RULAAC petitions IGP, alleges harassment of Enugu community
RULAAC Petitions Police Chief Over Alleged Abuse of Power in Land Dispute
The Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC) has formally petitioned Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Rilwan Disu, highlighting alleged misconduct by officers of the Enugu State Police Command. The organization claims that police operatives have been misusing their authority to intimidate community leaders involved in a civil dispute regarding a land transaction with Ostara Farms Limited.
According to RULAAC, community leaders are facing harassment in relation to a controversial acquisition of approximately 2,000 hectares of communal land by Ostara Farms, purportedly agreed upon for N50 million. The rights group asserts that the agreement was negotiated under questionable circumstances and unfairly benefits the company involved.
In a petition dated May 29, 2026, RULAAC’s Executive Director Okechukwu Nwanguma accused the police officers of interfering in ongoing litigation related to the land, which involves multiple lawsuits pending in Enugu courts, including Suit Nos. A/24/2025, AWH/41/2022, and A/58/2025, among others.
The organization expressed concern over the police’s involvement in criminal investigations linked to the matter. They allege that police officers have been targeting outspoken community members and critics of the land deal following an incident involving the destruction of company property. Instead of identifying the actual perpetrators, RULAAC claims that the police have relied on names provided by the company, treating community leaders as suspects.
“If true, such actions amount to an abuse of police processes and could suppress dissent,” RULAAC stated in its petition.
The organization referenced an earlier land dispute involving other communities and noted past concerns about police involvement, which had already been reported to the IGP and the Police Monitoring Unit.
RULAAC called for the IGP to direct the Police Monitoring Unit to assume oversight of the investigation and examine claims against the involved officers. They also emphasized the need to review any criminal proceedings that may have been initiated for harassment purposes.
In a separate petition dated May 28, 2026, RULAAC urged the IGP to intervene in two criminal cases pending before the Federal High Court in Enugu. The cases, linked to the failure of police authorities to present defendants for arraignment, include Charge No. FHC/EN/CR/84/2025 and Charge No. FHC/EN/CR/222/2024.
Despite investigations being completed and formal charges filed, RULAAC reported that defendants have not been produced for court proceedings, leading to unnecessary delays. A court hearing on May 20, 2026, revealed judicial concerns over the prosecution’s inability to present the defendants.
The rights group cautioned that continued delays might result in the cases being dismissed, undermining public trust in the criminal justice system. They are urging the IGP to ensure that the defendants are made available for their next court date on June 18, 2026, and to facilitate a thorough prosecution.
RULAAC asserted that its actions aim to maintain the integrity of the justice system and ensure that police powers are exercised fairly and in accordance with the rule of law.
As of this report, the police have not issued a public statement regarding the petition.
