Police Inspector Ifeanyi Onyekwere rejects IGP’s order of probe over alleged misconduct, murder attempt and land grabbing

Police Inspector Ifeanyi Onyekwere rejects IGP’s order of probe over alleged misconduct, murder attempt and land grabbing

By Nkiru Gabriel

Inspector Ifeanyi Onyekwere, a serving officer attached to the Strike Force Squad at Zone 2 Command in Lagos, has rejected an invitation from the Inspector General of Police, following allegations of gross misconduct against him.

Insp. Ifeanyi Onyekwere, a serving police officer of the Strike Force Squad at Zone 2 Command in Lagos, is accused of teaming up with a known land‑grabber, Akeem Ajakaye, to try to kill the landowner Kolawole Oluakamo and seize four plots worth over ₦40 million in Ojo, Lagos.

Onyekwere allegedly conspired with Ajakaye to assault Oluakamo, using weapons and later destroying the property’s foundation to build on the land. On 23 September 2025, armed men beat Oluakamo severely; he is now critically ill in an undisclosed hospital.

Apart from an attempt on the victim’s life, Inspector Ifeanyi Onyekwere and Akeem Ajakaye are accused of illegally seizing and destroying the foundation of a piece of land that the victim, Oluakamo, has lawfully tended for over a decade. The property, which consists of four plots, was reportedly targeted earlier this year when Inspector Onyekwere allegedly allied with local land thugs, known as “omo onile”, and family heads to forcibly take control of it.

Oluakamo claims that Akeem Ajakaye, the family head, conspired with the police officer to eliminate him. The situation escalated dramatically on September 23, 2025, when armed men allegedly ambushed and assaulted Oluakamo, issuing severe threats to deter him from approaching the land, warning that failure to comply could result in death.

Following the conduct of Inspector Ifeanyi Onyekwere, the complainant wrote a petition to the IGP, who directed the Public Complaint Unit to invite Inspector Ifeanyi Onyekwere for an interview at the Force Headquarters in Abuja, but he refused to go for the interview after repeated reminders by the Force Headquarters.

He reportedly refused to travel to Abuja, insisting any interview be held in Lagos, and transferred the case to the Force Headquarters Annexe in Kam Salem, where evidence was allegedly tampered with, having discovered the substantial evidence against him, despite the ongoing investigation. During the transfer, an officer named Obi Stanley reportedly confiscated Oluakamo’s phone, deleted critical recorded evidence, and made threats to imprison him following a contentious dispute with his legal counsel.

However, Zone 2 Command confirmed the officer is under investigation, and the Assistant Inspector‑General of Police (AIG) for Zone 2, Adegoke Fayoade, has been notified. Moreover, the Centre for Human and Socio‑Economic Rights (CHSR) condemned the incident as a gross abuse of police authority, calling for an independent probe and the officer’s suspension pending inquiry.

The Police Public Relation Officer of Zone 2 Command, CSP Ayuba Umma, confirmed the case and noted that the officer involved is currently under investigation.

“The concerned police officer, Inspector Ifeanyi Onyekwene, is under investigation over the matter. We are aware and remain committed to upholding professional conduct among our officers,” Ayuba stated.

She disclosed that the officer had been invited by the Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) in charge of Zone 2, Mr Adegoke Fayoade, and she was aware that Inspector Ifeanyi Onyekwere had been invited for an interview at the Force headquarters in Abuja.

However, the PPRO is not aware that Inspector Ifeanyi Onyekwere has refused to go to the Inspector General of Police for the interview.

Meanwhile, findings at the Survey Department revealed that the land in question, as registered at Alausa Secretariat, belongs to Mrs Ibiyemi.

The matter remains under investigation, with no convictions reported yet.