A Lagos socialite, Gail Fajembola, has approached the Federal High Court in Lagos with a N50 million lawsuit against the Nigeria Police Force, accusing them of repeated harassment and rights violations over a property-related civil dispute.
In the suit, marked FHC L CS 2025 and filed by her legal representative, Akin Apara of BA LAW LLP, Fajembola alleges that the police, acting in collaboration with private individuals, unlawfully interfered in a disagreement over the use of an apartment located at Flat K9-2, Ocean Parade Towers, Banana Island, Ikoyi.
The suit names as defendants: the Inspector General of Police, the Assistant Inspector General (Zone 2), the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Ogbonna Nweke, Olutoyi Estate Development and Services Ltd, and businessman Tunde Ayeni.
Fajembola is asking the court to declare that the police have no constitutional right to involve themselves in a personal property dispute, and that any move to detain, arrest, or otherwise harass her would amount to an abuse of power and a violation of her fundamental rights.
She is also seeking a court order to permanently restrain the police authorities (the first to fourth respondents) from infringing on her right to freedom of movement, personal liberty, and dignity of the human person, as guaranteed under sections 35, 36, 41, and 46 of the 1999 Constitution.
In addition, she is demanding N50 million in damages for the alleged unlawful interference and emotional distress.
In a sworn affidavit submitted to the court by a litigation officer, Olawale Arowosaye, it was revealed that the dispute has its roots in a former personal relationship between Fajembola and Mr. Ayeni, one of the respondents.
The affidavit claimed that in 2016, Ayeni allowed Fajembola to move into the apartment in question, where she spent over $45,000 furnishing it before relocating to the UK in 2019.
Following her move abroad, the apartment was used as a short-term rental before being leased out in 2022 to a company named Expand Global Industries Ltd, allegedly with Ayeni’s verbal approval.
However, after their relationship soured, Ayeni and the estate firm reportedly demanded that the tenant be evicted and possession of the property returned.
Fajembola contended that instead of pursuing legal channels, Ayeni and the real estate company involved the police to intimidate her, her agent, and the current occupant of the property. She alleges they were summoned for questioning and subjected to intimidation tactics.
Refuting reports that she had been detained, she stated: “I was never arrested or detained at any time. I have also never claimed to own the property or attempted to sell it. These media reports are completely false.”
She told the court that she voluntarily handed back the apartment to Ayeni and the estate managers in April 2025, leaving behind appliances and furniture she personally paid for. Despite this, she claims to have continued receiving threats and harassment from the respondents.
According to her, these pressures—including involvement from law enforcement and damaging press coverage—have made it unsafe for her to return to Lagos and have caused her significant mental and emotional distress. She called on the court to stop what she described as the misuse of police powers in settling private civil disagreements.
In a counter-allegation, Olutoyi Estate Development and Services Ltd, through its legal representatives at Legal Resources Alliance, submitted a petition to the Inspector General of Police. In the petition, dated June 13, 2025, Fajembola was accused of illegally leasing out the apartment and collecting rent without proper authorization—allegedly generating over N100 million in the process.
The petition stated that Fajembola was originally allowed to live in the apartment as a goodwill gesture, having claimed she was without shelter at the time.
However, she is now accused of turning that temporary arrangement into a lucrative business through her company, GIF Energy Resources Limited.
According to the petitioners, this unauthorized leasing amounted to fraudulent conversion, leading to financial losses and reputational damage for the estate developers.
The petition was officially acknowledged by the Office of the Inspector General of Police on June 17, 2025.
The court is expected to hear the matter in the coming weeks.