Human Rights Lawyer, Group Demand Probe Into Alleged Property Fraud, Police Obstruction In Abuja
A human rights lawyer, Maxwell Opara, alongside civic organisation Initiative Against Human Rights Abuse and Torture (INAHURAT), has urged President Bola Tinubu to launch an independent investigation into an alleged fraudulent property sale in Abuja, involving conspiracy, forgery, theft, and criminal trespass.
The properties at the center of the controversy—Plots 1861, 1862, and 1863 in Katampe, as well as Plot 4022 in Guzape District—allegedly belong to 79-year-old grandmother, Mrs. Collen Mero Yesufu, and were reportedly sold under fraudulent circumstances.
INAHURAT accused the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), under Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun, of shielding the suspects and obstructing justice.
Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday, Chief Maxwell Opara condemned what he described as deliberate police efforts to frustrate investigations despite repeated petitions since December 2024.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had earlier secured a court order for the forfeiture of the disputed properties, compelling the main suspect, Bilikisu Ishaku Aliyu, to justify why they should not be returned to Mrs. Yesufu.
Opara revealed that after INAHURAT’s January 8, 2025 press conference exposing the police’s interference, the NPF hastily filed criminal charges against Aliyu—not to ensure justice, but allegedly to divert attention from their earlier obstruction.
“The police secretly arraigned her in court, without informing the fraud victims, and granted her bail without any objections,” he alleged.
According to INAHURAT, this move aimed to:
- Distract from the overwhelming evidence against the police.
- Undermine the EFCC’s ongoing investigation.
- Shield the suspect from proper legal consequences.
INAHURAT called on:
- President Bola Tinubu to order a full-scale independent investigation into the fraud and the police’s role in obstructing justice.
- The Inspector General of Police to withdraw from the case and allow the EFCC to continue its legally sanctioned probe.
- The National Assembly and oversight bodies to hold police officers accountable for any abuse of power.
- The Judiciary to resist any attempts to manipulate legal proceedings through delay tactics or baseless charges.
INAHURAT declared its loss of confidence in the police, vowing to continue exposing human rights abuses and demanding justice for Mrs. Yesufu.
“We refuse to stand by while the rights of innocent citizens—especially a vulnerable 79-year-old grandmother—are trampled upon. We urge all relevant authorities to act immediately,” the statement concluded.
