• Police accused of intimidation during reclamation exercise
• Ibru claims encroachment on family waterfront property
• Lawyer threatens legal action over alleged trespass
• Golden Penny asserts title, reclamation rights

A resident of 20 Oyinkan Abayomi Drive (formerly Queens Drive), Ikoyi, Lagos State, Mr Obaro Ibru, has accused the Office of the Surveyor General of the Federation (OSGOF) of encroachment.

The Surveyor General of the Federation, Abdulganiyu Adebomehin, however, has denied the allegation.

Ibru alleged that officers of the Lagos State Police Command’s Marine Division invaded his residence on Saturday, June 13, 2026, dragged him, fired tear gas, threatened and harassed him while he was filming the sand-filling of his garden.

In a video shared with The Guardian, a man was seen using a hammer to break the lock on the garden gate while police officers stood by. One officer was heard saying, “Make him no video us,” while another officer released a tear-gas canister before walking away.

When The Guardian visited the officers on their boat, they denied involvement, despite their faces appearing in the video.

Ibru alleged that the sand-filling and takeover of the land were being carried out on behalf of the Office of the Surveyor General of the Federation.

He further alleged that the affected properties belonged to John Coumantaros of Golden Penny Foods Limited, formerly Flour Mills of Nigeria; Eko Support Group Managing Director, Seni Edu; and former senator Ben Murray-Bruce.

According to him, Murray-Bruce recovered his land after speaking directly with the President, while others are still struggling to reclaim theirs.

Ibru said attempts to interfere with waterfront rights raise concerns about the integrity of property rights, investor confidence, and the rule of law in Nigeria.

He said: “The property at 20 Queens Drive occupies a unique place in Nigerian history. Acquired in 1957 from a British owner and serving as the central residence of the Ibru family since 1959, it was purchased and developed by the late Olorogun Michael Ibru, one of Nigeria’s most respected entrepreneurs and nation-builders.”

When The Guardian visited the scene on Saturday, June 13, 2026, it observed that the garden lock had been broken during sand-filling activities.

Two Marine Police boats were also on standby at the location.

Narrating the incident, Ibru said: “We have had people encroaching on our property over the last six months, intimidating us with police officers allegedly acting on behalf of the Office of the Surveyor General of the Federation.

“They grabbed me and forced me into my house. They harassed my wife and children because I was filming their activities.”

Asked whether any contact had been made with him before the exercise commenced, he said: “No formal approach was made. No letter was given. They did not come with any documents or means of identification. Their vehicles carried the name of the Office of the Surveyor General of the Federation under the authority of the President. They came to take the land with armed men, firing tear gas, scaring my wife and children, intimidating us, and making us prisoners in our own home.

“If there was any issue, they should have invited me to their office for discussion. The land was developed as a garden where children play, a place of peace and tranquillity. Now it is being turned into a building site with thugs.

“The land is part of the house purchased in 1957, and the adjoining land came with the Certificate of Occupancy. It is clearly reflected in the documentation.”

Describing his children’s reaction, he said: “My children were extremely scared. They have heard stories about how some police officers behave in Nigeria. The entire street became tense because a peaceful neighbourhood was suddenly filled with thugs and abusers of power.

“The Marine Police came ashore when people arrived to offload blocks, remove my iron fence, break my lock, and begin construction on my land. I could do nothing because there were about 25 of them.

“At a time when Nigeria is actively seeking both domestic and foreign investment, the perception that legally documented property can be undermined through unofficial channels damages the country’s reputation.

“Every unlawful encroachment that goes unchallenged weakens confidence in the nation’s land administration system and encourages further abuse. The waterfront attached to Queens Drive represents significant economic value today and even greater value in the future.”

A lawyer at Zetetic Chambers, Mariere Omene, told The Guardian that legal action for trespass, unlawful violation of property rights, and other civil claims would be instituted after a petition had been submitted to the Zone 2 Zonal Headquarters over the matter.

Also, in a letter dated June 9, 2026, and addressed to the Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), counsel to Golden Penny Foods Limited stated that the company holds all rights, legal title, and interests in No. 21 Queens Drive, Ikoyi, Lagos State.

The letter, titled ‘Legal Title and Exclusive Reclamation Rights Related to No. 21 Queens Drive’ and signed by TNP Managing Partner, Baba Alokolaro, stated that the company applied to NIWA to reclaim 2,000.680 square metres of land adjoining the property and also approached the Office of the Surveyor General of the Federation for an official survey of the reclaimed land.

According to the letter, Golden Penny Foods paid N25,020,933.25 to NIWA for the reclamation exercise, and the payment was duly acknowledged through an official receipt issued on March 5, 2026.

It added: “We request that your Authority refrains from recognising any person other than our client regarding the property, the jetty or the reclamation exercise, and that any approach made to your Authority by any other person or entity concerning the property be brought to our attention without delay.”

Responding to the allegations, Adebomehin said: “Obaro called former Delta State governor James Ibori, and Ibori did not call back after I explained the matter to him. They only have a property on the other side of the road, so why would they claim the land? We asked them to bring their documents, and the documents turned out to be for a jetty reclamation application written about two months ago. It means that while we were preparing to hand over those places properly, they went to NIWA and NIWA started issuing them letters.

“A jetty approval is not something a person can obtain alone. There is a task force one has to apply to. Why did they apply only towards the due date? The Ibrus did not apply until three weeks ago when I asked them to do so.

“He requested 1,500 square metres, but they wanted me to write it in the name of a company called Ivetu. I declined because the Ibru name is not associated with that company. I told them that I know the owner of the building as Ibru. That was my only offence.”

On the Saturday incident, he said: “I am not aware of Saturday’s incident. They previously came with military officers, and we wrote to the Minister of Defence and resolved the matter. Then they brought in the Marine Police, and we wrote to the Inspector-General of Police and resolved that issue as well.

“There is no way I would have asked police officers to harass anyone or disturb the peace of a neighbourhood.”

On the alleged connection between Golden Penny Foods and Murray-Bruce, he said: “Someone opened a company in the name of Flour Mills of Nigeria and wrote to me. I told him to ask Flour Mills to write directly to us.

“I asked everyone to bring their documents and none of them has a right to the place. They do not have the right to go beyond the fence of their houses. Ask the Ibrus to show you their boat there. The only person among them with a boat anchorage is Ben Bruce.

“I do not know whether he spoke with the President or not. My men were stopped by soldiers when they got there because of security concerns involving an important resident.

“There is a man called Jibola who came on behalf of three companies, including Ibru, Flour Mills of Nigeria and Ivetu. I know the logo of Flour Mills and I declined the request. They made several promises, but I told all of them to apply individually. Two people applied and their issues were resolved, so why should the Ibru case be different?”

Responding to Adebomehin’s reference to Ivetu, Ibru said, “That is the owner of our Certificate of Occupancy. It comprises my mother and her children.

“The Surveyor General tried to appease me by offering me 1,500 square metres and proposing that we share the land. He would take 1,000 square metres from my side and 1,500 square metres from No. 21 next door belonging to Flour Mills.”