A human rights organization, Initiative Against Human Rights Abuse and Torture (INAHURAT), has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to intervene in an alleged land grabbing case involving disputed properties in Abuja's Guzape and Katampe Districts.
The case centers on Plot 4022 at Guzape District and Plots 1861, 1862, and 1863 at Katampe District in the Federal Capital Territory, which are claimed by 79-year-old Hajia Coleen Mero but allegedly illegally acquired and occupied by Rebecca Omokamo.
According to Barrister Maxwell Opara, who addressed journalists on behalf of INAHURAT, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) has been providing security for Omokamo despite the police filing charges against her in January 2025. The case, with charge number CR/007/2025, is currently before an FCT High Court in Apo.
"We call on the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to urgently intervene and investigate the IGP's unprofessional conduct on this matter. It is both shameful and unacceptable that a suspect facing serious criminal charges by the Police still enjoys such close proximity to the Nigerian IGP and continues to enjoy police protection, using the privilege to obstruct lawful actions of EFCC operatives," Opara stated.
The rights group alleged that police protection has frustrated the case, with security details preventing operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from taking necessary action. Opara claimed that on March 6, 2025, EFCC operatives attempting to arrest Omokamo for jumping bail were blocked by armed police officers guarding the suspect.
Opara further accused the IGP of filing charges against Omokamo not to serve justice but to divert attention from earlier efforts to shield her. "The police secretly arraigned her in an Apo court via Charge No. CR/007/2025 without informing the fraud victims and granted her bail immediately, without any objection," he said.
According to INAHURAT, EFCC investigations uncovered evidence of document forgery and fraud, including falsification of Power of Attorneys, AGIS titles, signatures, and various CAC company documents.
Despite the alleged obstruction, Opara announced that progress has been made in the case, with Omokamo now facing multiple charges in different courts:
- Charge No: CR/76/2025 – a 17-count charge including forgery, criminal trespass, cheating, and violations under the Advance Fee Fraud Act at the Federal High Court.
- Charge No: CR/77/2025 – a separate case before the Federal High Court.
- A third charge at the FCT High Court with 5 counts including forgery, obtaining by false pretense, and Advance Fee Fraud offenses awaiting assignment.
The rights group commended the EFCC team for handling the matter with integrity despite alleged intimidation and interference. They also expressed appreciation to the Attorney General of the Federation for "refusing to yield to unreasonable pressure and for upholding the rule of law."
INAHURAT called on the EFCC Chairman to enforce court-sanctioned forfeiture orders issued against the properties on March 4, 2025, and urged the National Assembly to scrutinize the IGP's conduct in the matter.
