Alleged Multi-Billion Naira Land Fraud
An Ibadan-based real estate developer, Dr. Taiwo Paul Olukunle, has filed a lawsuit against Ismaila Alao, son of late prominent businessman, Alhaji Abdul Azeez Arisekola Alao, over an alleged multi-billion naira land fraud involving a parcel of land situated in Jericho, Ibadan South West Local Government Area.
According to court documents obtained by SaharaReporters on Friday, Olukunle alleged that Ismaila Alao is involved in a fraudulent scheme aimed at unlawfully dispossessing him (Olukunle) of the land.
In addition, he accused the Nigerian police of complicity in the matter, stating that officers acted “unlawfully and outside their jurisdiction” in handling the case.
The Ibadan Judicial Division of the Oyo State High Court is to set to hear the case filed under SUIT NO: 1/666/2025.
.Olukunle has also obtained a fundamental rights enforcement under the inherent jurisdiction of The High Court Of Justice Oyo State Nigeria in Ibadan affirming his right to protection from unlawful harassment and oppression against Mr. Ismaila Alao and his cohorts under the disguise of the Nigerian Police
However, despite the ongoing Fundamental Rights Enforcement Procedure under the inherent jurisdiction case before the High Court of Justice, Oyo State, Nigeria, in the Ibadan Judicial Division, filed by Olukunle’s lawyer, Yusuf Ogunrinde, SAN, under Suit No M/487/2025, Ismaila Alao is alleged to have continued using armed thugs to threaten, oppress, and destroy properties worth billions of naira in the Aleshinloye–Jericho area of Ibadan.
More alarmingly, it is further alleged that Mr. Ismaila Alao, in defiance of the court’s decision, is leveraging the influence of senior police officers, including an Assistant Inspector General (AIG) of zone 11 Oshogbo and one SUPOL Bolaji Alao, to maintain an ongoing campaign of threats and harassment against Dr. Olukunle.
As a result of the escalating threats to his life and safety, Olukunle has been forced to flee for his life.
At the time of this report, his current whereabouts remain unknown, with close associates and family members expressing growing concerns for his safety.
According to an affidavit sworn by Dr. Olukunle, he was unlawfully detained on May 21, 2025, after a petition was filed by the respondent.
He was held at a police station for nearly seven hours, from 11am to 6pm, without formal charges.
During the detention, Dr. Olukunle said the police “compelled” him to write a statement “to vacate the land in dispute,” a move he described as unlawful and a violation of his constitutional rights.
The developer also revealed that his workers and site engineers were arrested by the police while at the land site.
He later intervened, leading to their release that same day. He described the police conduct as “reckless and wrongful exercise of power.”
On May 27, 2025, Dr. Olukunle said he was summoned again and detained for three hours under similar circumstances.
He stated that during this detention, there was “renewed pressure” to vacate the property.
In his affidavit, Dr. Olukunle said, “The actions of the police and the 6th respondent amount to unlawful interference and harassment, infringing on my fundamental rights including personal liberty, dignity, fair hearing, freedom of movement, and ownership of property.”
He is seeking a perpetual injunction restraining the police and others involved from further harassment and unlawful detention linked to the land dispute.
This case highlights serious concerns about police involvement in property disputes and the potential misuse of law enforcement powers.
Dr. Olukunle’s legal action points to a situation where the police allegedly assisted in a fraudulent effort to dispossess him.