The Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC) has formally complained to the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, accusing officers from the Enugu State Police Command of misconduct and abuse of authority.
According to DAILY POST, the group claims that law enforcement agents are persecuting local leaders in connection with a land dispute between Ostara Farms Limited and the Okpogho community in Ezeagu Local Government Area, Enugu State.
RULAAC alleges that police personnel, allegedly acting at the behest of the private firm, are using intimidation tactics against residents over a dispute that is essentially civil in nature.
In a petition dated May 29, 2026, signed by Executive Director Okechukwu Nwanguma, the organization stated that officers have meddled in an ongoing land litigation, terrorized community members, and leveraged criminal charges to sway a disagreement that is already before multiple courts.
The group explained that the conflict stems from a deal where Ostara Farms Limited purportedly bought roughly 2,000 hectares of communal land from individuals who claimed to represent the community for N50 million.
A large portion of the community has contested the sale, arguing that the agreement was reached under dubious conditions and includes provisions that disproportionately benefit the company.
Several lawsuits regarding ownership and control of the disputed land are currently being heard in Enugu State courts, including case numbers A/24/2025, AWH/41/2022, E/299M/2025, A/58/2025, A/59/2025, A/60/2025, and A/61/2025.
RULAAC expressed concern that police authorities have intensified their involvement in the matter through criminal investigations and prosecutions, despite the pending civil cases.
The organization alleged that criminal accusations stemming from the burning of a company-owned bulldozer by unknown individuals have been used to target vocal critics of the land transaction.
Instead of identifying the actual culprits, the company reportedly provided names of community leaders and opponents of the deal, who were then treated as suspects, the petition stated.
“If these allegations are true, they amount to an abuse of police procedures and a dangerous weaponization of criminal justice to silence dissent, intimidate citizens, and gain an upper hand in a civil matter,” the organization said.
RULAAC also connected the issue to a previous land conflict involving Obeagu Awkunanaw and Amechi Uwani communities and Private Estates International West Africa Limited (PEIWA).
The group recalled that concerns regarding police involvement in the PEIWA case had earlier been flagged to the IGP and referred to the Police Monitoring Unit at Force Headquarters.
Additionally, RULAAC referenced findings from the Enugu State House of Assembly’s Special Committee Report on Land Matters and Disputes, which was adopted in December 2024.
The organization urged the IGP to instruct the Police Monitoring Unit to immediately take over all investigations and prosecutions related to the Ostara Farms dispute, probe accusations against certain officers, and review any criminal proceedings that may have been initiated solely for harassment or intimidation.
In a separate petition dated May 28, 2026, RULAAC also called on the IGP to step in regarding two criminal cases before the Federal High Court in Enugu, where police authorities have repeatedly failed to produce defendants for arraignment.
The cases are Charge No. FHC/EN/CR/84/2025, IGP v. Kingsley Eze & 2 Others, and Charge No. FHC/EN/CR/222/2024, IGP v. Alex Ifeadi & 2 Others.
According to RULAAC, charges were filed after investigations by the Force Intelligence Department (FID), Abuja, and the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) Annex, Enugu, indicating that probes were complete and prosecution was ready.
However, the organization lamented that despite the charges being filed, the defendants have consistently not been brought to court for plea-taking, causing significant delays.
The cases were before the Federal High Court on May 20, 2026, where the court reportedly expressed frustration over the prosecution’s inability to present the defendants for plea.
RULAAC warned that continued delays could result in the cases being dismissed for lack of diligent prosecution, eroding public trust in the justice system.
The group urged the IGP to direct the FCID Annex, Enugu, and the FID, Abuja, through the Directorate of Legal Services, to ensure defendants are produced on the next adjourned date of June 18, 2026, and to facilitate diligent prosecution.
RULAAC maintained that its actions are aimed at preserving the integrity of the justice system and ensuring that police powers are used fairly and in line with the rule of law.
As of the time of this report, the police have not issued any public response to the petition.