THE Citizens Advocacy for Social and Economic Rights (CASER) has petitioned the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), seeking investigation into alleged diversion of public resources and abuse of office by the Surveyor General of the Federation, Abdulganiyu Adebomehin and other officials.
The petition dated October 14 and signed by CASER’s Executive Director, Frank Tietie, has since been acknowledged by ICPC.

CASER had alleged in the said petition that military and police personnel, accompanied by civilian agents acting under the Surveyor General’s authority, unlawfully entered Plots 5, 6, 7 and 8, Maiyegun Tourism Zone, Lekki Peninsula Scheme II, sometime in August.
The petition read that OSGOF personnel removed the signboard of BraveMatt Property and Investment Limited, which occupies and claims the property, placed two 40-foot shipping containers on the site and threatened workers with lethal force.

It alleged that the intervention of the Surveyor General advanced private commercial interests through the deployment of federal personnel, vehicles and other resources.
CASER further cited a formal response dated September 1, signed by Amali Ati on behalf of the Surveyor General, admitting that OSGOF’s intervention followed representations by Industrial and General Insurance Limited asserting claims on behalf of 44 Hospitality Limited, variously identified as Four H Limited or 4H Nigeria Limited.

The organization argued that such explanation raised questions about the use of federal authority in a dispute between private parties.
“OSGOF has no statutory power to function as a debt or land recovery agency, nor does it have legal authority to deploy armed personnel or engage in self-help”, the petition read.

The organization added that deploying state resources to dispossess one private entity for another’s benefit raised serious grounds for investigating suspected corrupt advantage under Section 19 of the ICPC Act.
“The alleged deployment raised a presumption that “public power was converted into a corrupt, private enforcement tool.”

Invoking the commission’s investigative mandate under Section 6, CASER calls for immediate investigation into the conduct of the Surveyor General and other officials involved in the matter.

It also seeks an audit of OSGOF’s financial and operational records, including task-force authorisations, security requests, vehicle logbooks and expenditure approvals.
The organization asked ICPC to question directors and representatives of Industrial and General Insurance Limited and 44 Hospitality Limited to establish whether benefits, inducements or improper arrangements were extended to officials.

It further requested bank records and financial intelligence to trace any direct or indirect payments, gratification or logistical funding between the private claimants and OSGOF officials, alongside prosecution where evidence establishes offences.
CASER acknowledged that the underlying boundary and possession dispute was pending before the Lagos State High Court and that neither it nor OSGOF was a party.

“This criminal petition is not asking ICPC to determine land ownership or title. It concerns alleged misuse of public office and federal resources to promote a private interest”, CASER said.