Lagos-based socialite, Gail Fajembola, has filed a ₦50 million lawsuit against the Nigeria Police Force, accusing them of harassment, intimidation, and unlawful interference in a private civil matter.
The suit, filed at the Federal High Court in Lagos and marked FHC/L/CS/2025, seeks the enforcement of Fajembola’s fundamental human rights.
Her legal team, led by Akin Apara of BA LAW LLP, argues that the police acted outside their legal authority by involving themselves in a dispute over possession of a residential apartment located at Flat K9-2, Ocean Parade Towers, Banana Island, Ikoyi.
Fajembola is asking the court to declare that the police have no constitutional or legal right to arrest, threaten, or detain her over what she describes as a purely civil disagreement.
She asserts that any such actions are unlawful, unconstitutional, and constitute an abuse of police powers.
The respondents in the case include the Inspector General of Police, the Assistant Inspector General of Police (Zone 2), the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, one Ogbonna Nweke, Olutoyl Estate Development & Services Ltd, and businessman Tunde Ayeni.
The socialite is also seeking a perpetual injunction restraining the police (1st to 4th respondents) from further interfering with her rights to personal liberty, dignity, and freedom of movement—rights protected under Sections 35(1), 36, 41(1), and 46(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
In addition, she is asking the court to award ₦50 million in general damages for what she describes as “unlawful and unconstitutional interference with my rights through threats, harassment, and police intimidation.”
In a supporting 10-paragraph affidavit sworn by litigation clerk Olawale Arowosaye, the court was told that the dispute stems from a personal relationship between Fajembola and the sixth respondent, Mr. Tunde Ayeni.
According to the affidavit, Ayeni gave Fajembola possession of the apartment in 2016, which she furnished at her own expense, spending $45,792. She lived there until relocating to the UK in 2019.
After her relocation, the apartment was temporarily used as an Airbnb before being leased in 2022 to Expand Global Industries Ltd for one year—a move she claims was made with Ayeni’s verbal consent.
However, following the breakdown of their relationship, Ayeni and Olutoyl Estate Development allegedly demanded that she evict the tenant and vacate the property.
Fajembola contends that rather than pursue legal eviction through the courts, they turned to the police to exert pressure on her, her agent, and the tenant.
She alleges that she and others were summoned to police offices, where they were subjected to intimidation.
Contrary to some media reports, she clarified in the affidavit that she was never arrested or detained.
The case is pending before the Federal High Court as Fajembola seeks legal redress.