A tenant in Goodnews Estate, Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos State, Nkem Imoh, has accused some police officers of threatening and intimidating him during a prolonged dispute with his United States-based landlord, Samuel Afolayan.
Imoh alleged that the landlord used some associates and police officers to pressure him to leave the property.
He mentioned several officers, including DCP James, Inspector Mercy, DSP Bola and IPO Agboola Tosin, while also naming Bola Dudu, David Ovie, Sakey and Ayuba as people allegedly connected to the dispute.
However, the allegations have not been established by a court.
According to Imoh, the disagreement began after he complained about the poor condition of the apartment, including a leaking roof and holes in the fence which he claimed allowed snakes to enter the compound.
He said the leaking roof damaged his children’s laptops and that he had repeatedly killed snakes inside the house.
Imoh also alleged that Dudu, whom he identified as the landlord’s lawyer, sent him a WhatsApp invitation purportedly from the Area J Police Command but instructed him to report to DSP Bola.
He claimed that he later explained the matter to Bola in person and by phone but that the situation continued.
Imoh further alleged that Dudu threatened to have him arrested and that another invitation was later delivered through Ayuba and Ovie.
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Ovie, according to Imoh, warned him about possible consequences if he refused to receive the invitation.
DSP Bola confirmed that several invitations were issued using his name but gave a different account of the circumstances.
He said the IPO and Dudu had gone to the apartment and left an invitation with the security personnel, who later gave it to Dudu to send to Imoh through WhatsApp.
Bola said Dudu was the solicitor handling the property and that the police officer involved was later cautioned over the matter.
Imoh also accused some people connected to the landlord of attempting to give money to police officers to prevent the dispute from reaching court.
He alleged that IPO Agboola instructed Sakey to provide money for the Area J commander, claiming that an initial demand of ₦200,000 was later reduced to ₦120,000.
Imoh claimed that ₦155,000 was withdrawn and allegedly handed to the IPO.
Agboola denied the allegation, saying he neither requested nor received money from Sakey or anyone else.
He explained that he was investigating a separate complaint involving an alleged threat to life and not simply a landlord-tenant dispute.
The tenant said the situation escalated further on March 25, 2026, when he received an invitation from Alagbon over an alleged financial crime.
He alleged that a senior police officer later visited his residence before daybreak with a pistol and handcuffs.
Imoh claimed the officer showed him a petition and told him that the landlord had allegedly paid money to have him killed.
The officer, identified as DCP Samson Folarin, denied that he was sent to assassinate Imoh.
Folarin confirmed that he and other officers visited the property following a petition concerning Imoh’s alleged failure to pay rent and refusal to leave the apartment.
He said he reviewed the situation and believed mediation would be a better approach, adding that the landlord could pursue the matter through the courts.
Folarin said the landlord wanted Imoh to leave the property after allegedly allowing him to remain there for about two years without paying rent.
Dudu also denied Imoh’s allegations, describing the claims as untrue and saying his involvement was limited to his role as the landlord’s solicitor.
Sakey, meanwhile, claimed the dispute started after Imoh allegedly stopped paying rent and refused to comply with a quit notice.
Ovie said he became involved only as a neighbour and pastor trying to mediate between the parties, insisting that he had no interest in the property.
Imoh also challenged the legal steps allegedly taken by the landlord to recover possession of the property.
He claimed that some documents presented in court were not properly served on him and alleged that a photograph of him had been used in connection with court documents.
He further alleged that a tenancy-related receipt had been forged.
The law firm representing the landlord said the matter was already before the court and advised Imoh to present his complaints through the judicial process.
Imoh said he had petitioned the Lagos State Commissioner of Police over the alleged use of police identities and documents, threats, alleged bribery and the handling of his complaints.
As of the time of publication, Afolayan, Inspector Mercy and Ayuba had not responded to the allegations.
Nigerian law prohibits the use of police powers to arrest or detain a person solely because of a civil wrong or breach of contract. Courts have also previously held that police intervention in purely civil disputes, including land and tenancy matters, should not be used as a substitute for the judicial process.
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