Police Launch Manhunt for Ogun Monarch Over Alleged Attack on Property Consultant in Lagos Land Dispute

Police Launch Manhunt for Ogun Monarch Over Alleged Attack on Property Consultant in Lagos Land Dispute

By Naomi Onome

The Nigerian Police have launched a manhunt for the Osobia of Ijebu Makun-Omi in Ogun State, Oba Kazeem Adeshina Salami, popularly known as “All Rounder”, over allegations that he hired armed thugs to attack a property consultant, Stanley Oripelaye, and intimidate workers in connection with a disputed parcel of land in the Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State.

The allegations are contained in a petition submitted to the Inspector-General of Police by Cosmopolitan Properties Ltd, accusing the monarch and five other individuals of orchestrating repeated acts of violence, intimidation, burglary and destruction of property linked to alleged land-grabbing activities.

The petition, dated October 14, 2025, was written by Kayode Sofola & Associates on behalf of the company. It named the suspects as Idowu Hassan; Saheed Abiodun; Abidoye Opeyemi; Segun, also known as “Obasanjo”; and one Alujo, who were alleged to have acted on the instructions of Oba Salami.

According to the petition, the incidents occurred on the company’s property located at Sections 13, 28, 43, 58 and 73, Zone 31, in the Alasia/Ajiwe area of Eti-Osa, Lagos.

The company alleged that the first attack took place in June 2025 when the suspects reportedly invaded the property and assaulted its security guard, Afolabi Yisau. Although the matter was reported at Ogombo Police Station, the company claimed no arrest or prosecution followed.

It further alleged that the same group returned in July 2025, attacked the guard again and threatened to kill him if he failed to vacate the property.

The petition stated that towards the end of July, the suspects allegedly blocked the entrance to the property with a Toyota Sienna vehicle belonging to Idowu Hassan, assaulted the security guard and vandalised parts of the building. The company claimed police later arrested the suspects and recovered illicit drugs from the vehicle.

However, Cosmopolitan Properties alleged that the suspects were subsequently released without charges and continued to harass workers and security personnel attached to the property.

The petition also alleged that on September 18, 2025, the company’s property consultant, Stanley Oripelaye, narrowly escaped death after he was allegedly attacked on the property by men armed with cutlasses and daggers.

According to the company, the assailants damaged parts of the building, including the roof, after failing to locate the security guard. Photographs of the damage were reportedly submitted to the police as part of evidence.

Another alleged invasion reportedly occurred on October 12, 2025, when the suspects allegedly returned to the site and harassed security personnel on duty.

In a follow-up letter dated January 29, 2026, titled “Save Our Soul”, Oripelaye appealed directly to the Inspector-General of Police, alleging that the earlier petition had not been properly investigated and that threats to his life and other staff members had continued.

The letter urged the IGP to direct CSP Mohammed Abdulkareem of the IGP Monitoring Unit to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the allegations.

The follow-up correspondence also revealed that Oba Salami had filed a N350 million lawsuit against the IGP, Stanley Oripelaye, and others over alleged infringement of his rights but reportedly lost the case on December 4, 2025.

Cosmopolitan Properties maintained that it had remained law-abiding despite the alleged attacks and intimidation, stressing that the incidents had disrupted its operations and placed its workers in fear.

The company appealed to the Inspector-General of Police to ensure the protection of its staff, conduct a thorough investigation into the allegations and prosecute anyone found culpable.

The allegations remain unproven in court, and all individuals mentioned are presumed innocent until proven guilty.