In a video obtained by SaharaReporters, Joseph, who identified himself as a representative of Simonis Ventures and was seen wearing a shirt branded De Bridge Residences, alleged that forged documents were used to undermine a court verdict that had already settled ownership of the land in favour of Simonis Ventures.
A representative of Simonis Ventures Nigeria Limited has accused the Head of the Inspector-General of Police Monitoring Unit, CP Akin Fakorede, of colluding with the Enugu State Government to unlawfully seize a parcel of land in Abuja, despite an existing court judgment and a valid Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) issued to the company.
In a video obtained by SaharaReporters, Joseph, who identified himself as a representative of Simonis Ventures and was seen wearing a shirt branded De Bridge Residences, alleged that forged documents were used to undermine a court verdict that had already settled ownership of the land in favour of Simonis Ventures.
“I represent Simonis Ventures Nigeria Limited,” he said. “In the year 2022, we got this land through a power of attorney, and it was registered that year. The Certificate of Occupancy was issued to us in 2025.”
Joseph said the Enugu State Government had earlier gone to court claiming ownership of the property but lost the case.
“Years earlier, the Enugu State Government took us to court, claiming that the property was theirs, and we won,” he said. “There was a court verdict against them, which they did not appeal.”
He added that following the judgment, Simonis Ventures took physical possession of the land.
“Since that time, we have been in possession of this land. We fenced it, put a gate, and did everything required,” he said.
According to Joseph, officials of the Abuja Geographic Information System (AGIS) allegedly connived with Enugu State officials to revive the dispute using forged documents.
“We found out that some unscrupulous elements in AGIS connived with people in Enugu State Government,” he alleged. “They pulled out our court judgment and went ahead to forge another document, which they used to mandate the FCT under Mr Wike to issue a new C of O to them.”
He claimed the alleged forgery misled the current FCT administration.
“They gave him a forged document, so he didn’t know,” Joseph said.
Joseph further accused CP Fakorede of deploying police officers to the site in a manner he described as partisan, contrary to the Inspector-General of Police’s directive that police should not interfere in civil land disputes.
“We are appealing to the IG of Police because he said no policeman should be involved in land matters,” he said. “But we heard that CP Fakorede has been given the assignment.”
Pointing to the scene behind him in the video, where several police officers were visible on the site, Joseph noted that police officers had taken over the property.
“If you look behind me now, you’ll see police have taken over the site,” he said. “They said they are investigating, but you can see that they are aiding the people putting up signposts.”
Questioning the police claim of neutrality, he said: “They say they are neutral. What kind of neutrality is this? The police are taking sides.”
Joseph also alleged repeated police presence on the land.
“CP Fakorede comes up with different strategies. He posts his policemen around the site, and this has been ongoing,” he said.
Appealing directly to the Inspector-General of Police, Joseph urged him to intervene.
“Please, I am asking the IG, in the name of God, to wade into this matter,” he said. “People are saying the IG is afraid of CP Fakorede. I know there is no way the IG is afraid of him because he is the one that put him there.”
He called for a meeting involving all parties.
“IG, please call us. We are available. Call CP Fakorede. Let us sit in a room and let him tell us why he is here and why he is guarding the site and allowing people to perpetuate illegalities on a plot we already have a verdict and a C of O for,” he said.
Joseph added that as of Saturday, December 27, police officers on the site had refused to identify themselves.
“The policemen have refused to talk to us. No name tags, nothing,” he said.
IG’s directive
Meanwhile, the IGP, Kayode Egbetokun, has repeatedly issued a firm directive to all officers of the Nigeria Police Force, warning them to steer clear of land-related disputes and other civil matters.
For instance, in a video message shared via the official X handle of the Force in September, the IGP emphasised that police officers are not authorized to involve themselves in land recovery operations or act on behalf of private individuals or businesses in such cases.
“You have no business escorting parties for land recovery,” Egbetokun stated, noting that the Force must not be used as a tool for settling personal or commercial conflicts.
Egbetokun warned that any officer found violating the directive would face disciplinary action, stressing that such unauthorised involvement undermines the image and integrity of the Police Force.
Court Documents
SaharaReporters obtained documents relating to the long-running land dispute over the said property in Wuye District, Abuja (Plot 804 / Plot 807, Cadastral Zone A03) involving Simonis Ventures (Nig.) Ltd and the Enugu State Government.
According to the documents, on May 12, 2016, the FCT High Court, presided over by Justice O.A. Musa, ruled that the Enugu State Government and the Enugu State Housing Development Corporation had no legal interest in the disputed Wuye land.
The court struck out their suit for lack of locus standi, meaning they had no legal standing to claim the land.
It was learnt that no appeal was filed against that 2016 judgment by any party, including the FCT Minister or the FCDA, making the decision final and binding.
Simonis Ventures returned to court in 2025, complaining that despite the 2016 judgment, the Enugu State Government and its agencies were still interfering with the property.
The company alleged that the police were being used to harass or disturb it and that efforts were being made to undermine its title and power of attorney over the land.
On November 27, 2025, Justice Kayode Agunloye of the FCT High Court ruled in favour of Simonis Ventures.
The court held that the application was meritorious and ordered strict compliance with the 2016 judgment.
Based on the orders made by the courts, all respondents, including the Enugu State Government and police authorities, are barred from disturbing Simonis Ventures’ possession and quiet enjoyment of the property.
The court issued a perpetual injunction, permanently restraining the Enugu State Government, its agencies, and the police from using force or any means to act against the earlier court judgment.
The respondents are legally prevented from taking any action inconsistent with the 2016 judgment.
Letter to the FCT Minister
A separate 2021 letter from Font Chambers, lawyers to Simonis Ventures, formally protested attempts by AGIS and the FCT Department of Lands, allegedly acting at the request of Enugu State authorities, to cancel Simonis Ventures’ registered power of attorney over the land.
The lawyers warned that such actions would amount to contempt of court, since the 2016 judgment had already settled ownership and was never appealed.
The documents establish that Simonis Ventures is the lawful beneficiary of the property.
The May 12, 2016 judgment delivered by Justice Musa read, “Upon reading the Motion on Notice and the accompanying affidavit of Chukwuemeka Omeje and upon listening to Chris Ezugwu Esq of counsel to the Defendant/Applicant praying this Hon. Court for the following orders:
“AN ORDER dismissing and or striking out this suit for want of jurisdiction to entertain same.
“And for such further and other orders as the Honourable court may deem fit make in the circumstances of the case.”
“The motion on Notice so moved by the Defendant/Applicant is granted and that the plaintiffs in this suit have no locus standi to maintain or institute action and proper persons are not before the court and as a result this Hon. Court lacks the requisite jurisdiction to entertain this suit,” the court ruled.
“On that note, this application is meritorious and this suit is hereby strike out accordingly.”
In a similar case, in September, SaharaReporters reported that, according to police sources, Fakorede had made a clandestine move to the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), pressuring the organisation to release company records in the River Park Estate crisis in Abuja.
Fakorede allegedly visited the CAC office in Abuja in a plot to influence the River Park Estate case, which was still under review by the Attorney-General of the Federation, the sources confirmed to SaharaReporters.
SaharaReporters learnt that on September 3, under the pretext of a mere “courtesy call,” CP Fakorede stormed the office of the Registrar General of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).
Sources confirmed that during the closed-door meeting, he attempted to coerce the Registrar General into illegally overturning the binding directive of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), a directive which had explicitly ordered the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) to stand down on all actions relating to the parties involved, until the AGF’s ongoing review is concluded.
The action constitutes not only a flagrant breach of Nigeria’s constitutional order, but also a direct challenge to the supervisory authority of the AGF, whose letter of 21st July, 2025, addressed to the Inspector-General of Police, invoked Section 105(1) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, ordering the immediate transmission of the case file and a halt to all proceedings in Charge No. CR/402/25 pending legal advice.
WATCH : IGP Team Head Fakorede Accused Of Deploying Police To Back Enugu Govt Land Takeover In Abuja Despite Court Orders, IGP Ban pic.twitter.com/bNTK4ZlgTQ
— Sahara Reporters (@SaharaReporters) December 28, 2025