In a recent development, Justice Othman Musa of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama has directed the Nigeria Police to immediately unseal a contested property located in the Lekki area of Lagos. The court’s order overrides a previous ex parte order that had sealed the premises.
The disputed property, which houses multiple businesses that have been operational for years, was sealed in December 2025 following an earlier court order. This original order was part of a fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by Henry Ugonna Orabuchi against the Nigeria Police Force and other parties.
Orabuchi alleged that his constitutional rights under sections 34, 35, 36, 37, 41, and 44 of the Nigerian Constitution, as well as articles 9 and 14 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, had been violated. He claimed ownership of 3,000 square meters of reclaimed land behind the sealed property, which he purchased from Mr. Emecheta Elvis Eze, and asserted that this land is unrelated to the business premises.
The plaintiff sought to avoid police summons stemming from a petition by Prof. Mike Ozekhome, SAN, representing Mr. Emecheta, over allegations of criminal trespass and property damage. In his submissions, Orabuchi’s counsel, Chikaosolu Ojukwu, SAN, argued that the police invitation was an infringement of his client’s rights and aimed at coercing him to abandon his lawful claims.
After hearing arguments, Justice Musa declared that the applicant is entitled to rights to personal liberty, freedom of movement, and property interests. The judge vacated the earlier ex parte order, stating that the police cannot invite, arrest, or harass Orabuchi regarding a civil contractual dispute. The order to unseal the property was directed at the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 2, Lagos State.