HURIWA flays alleged Lagos Attorney-General’s order to reinvestigate ongoing land-grab case

Civil rights advocacy group, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), has criticised the alleged directive by the Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Lawal Pedro (SAN), to reinvestigate a criminal case that is already before a competent court of law.

In a text of press conference on Sunday,  issued by its National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, the civil rights organisation said the case in question involves a long-running dispute over alleged land grabbing in Lekki.

The matter, it said, had already been thoroughly investigated by the Special Enquiry Bureau (SEB) of the Force Criminal Investigation Department, culminating in a five-count charge now before Justice Sherifat Sonaike of the Lagos State High Court sitting at Tafawa Balewa Square.

According to HURIWA, “The complainant, Dr. Obidigwe Eze, a U.S.-based dentist, lawfully purchased the property in 2005 through a legitimate chain of ownership originating from Major Hamza Al-Mustapha (rtd), former Chief Security Officer to the late Head of State, General Sani Abacha. Dr. Eze lived peacefully on the property for over ten years until it was unlawfully demolished and taken over while he was abroad — an act for which the alleged perpetrators now face trial.”

Despite the pending trial, the group expressed concern over the Attorney-General’s alleged move to order a fresh probe. “Yet, despite the matter being properly before the court, the Attorney-General has allegedly directed a fresh reinvestigation — an act that we find deeply troubling, unnecessary, and constitutionally questionable,” the statement added.

HURIWA argued that while the Constitution gives the Attorney-General broad prosecutorial powers, such powers are not without limits. Quoting Section 211(3) of the 1999 Constitution, the group noted that the Attorney-General “shall have regard to the public interest, the interest of justice, and the need to prevent abuse of legal process.

“The operative word here is ‘shall’ — not may. It is mandatory, not discretionary,” the group said. “Therefore, these guiding principles are binding obligations, not polite suggestions. Any attempt to exercise prosecutorial authority outside these limits would constitute bad faith and a violation of the Constitution itself.”

The organisation stressed that the Attorney-General’s powers are “not absolute” and must be guided by “law, morality, and accountability.”

HURIWA also raised alarm over reports that one of the defendants in the case has been boasting about alleged high-level connections in the judiciary.

“We are equally disturbed by credible reports indicating one of the defendants has been making unsubstantiated and boastful claims about his supposed high-level connections within the judiciary,” the group said, adding that the individual allegedly cited a past association with Mr. Akintola Kekere-Ekun to “create the impression of influence” within the Ministry of Justice.

It emphasised that, “The Attorney-General is a public officer, not a private advocate. Under Sections 13 and 15(5) of the Nigerian Constitution, he is bound to abolish corrupt practices and abuse of power. Therefore, any conduct that even remotely suggests bias, influence, or compromise is not only unethical — it is unconstitutional.”

HURIWA further noted that even one of the defence lawyers, Mr. Tayo Oyetibo (SAN), had reportedly opposed the directive for a reinvestigation, describing it in open court as “an abuse of judicial process.”

The rights group therefore urged the Inspector-General of Police and the Lagos State Commissioner of Police to ensure the protection of the complainant, witnesses, and their legal representatives.

“They must be shielded from harassment, intimidation, and abuse of process,” HURIWA said.

It also called on the Lagos State Government to ensure that “no one is above the law” and that the prosecution proceeds “unhindered and untainted by political influence.”

The group concluded that if the Nigerian government continues to encourage diaspora citizens to invest in the country, it must also ensure their protection.

“If the Nigerian Government continues to encourage citizens in the diaspora to return home and invest their hard-earned money, then it must equally ensure that such citizens are protected,” the statement added.