Magodo Invasion: Residents Association Petitions Senate Over Police Presence In Estate

Magodo Residents Association has addressed a petition to the Nigeria Senate seeking the withdrawal of armed policemen from the Estate.

Naija News recalls that a mild drama happened in early January 2022 when Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu visited the estate and ordered men of the Nigeria police to stop their operation and vacate the premises as the matter was between private individuals and the state government.

The Governor’s command was, however, treated with levity as the leader of the security operatives told the Sanwo-Olu that officers were at the estate on the orders of the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba; as well as the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN).

The development had attracted reactions from various stakeholders in the state and the country at large, Naija News reports.

Residents of the estate had since continued to lament the presence of the security men, requesting their withdrawal that they should allow the Lagos State Government to conclude its efforts of resolving the lingering matter amicably.

In his presentation of their request before the Senate on Wednesday, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Industries, Sen. Mukhail Adetokunbo Abiru said the petitioners brought a complaint against the AGF, Minister of Justice, and the Inspector General of Police “over illegal invasion of Magodo GRA, Phase 2, Ikosi Ketu, Kosofe Local Government Area of Lagos State by men of the Nigeria Police Force in a bid to illegally execute a court judgement”.

Abiru who is the Senator representing Lagos East Senatorial District explained that the oppressed property owners in the upscale neighbourhood are seeking the intervention of the Nigeria Senate on the ongoing matter.

In a statement he issued through his Special Adviser on Media Publicity, Enitan Olukotun, Sen. Abiru said the petitioners did not seek any judicial remedy.

Responding to the petition, the President of the Senate, Dr Ahmad Lawan requested that the petition be laid before the Senate for the consideration of the Senate Committee on Ethic Privileges and Public Petitions.

The committee was mandated to report back to the Senate in four weeks.