Murphy Adebare, popularly known as Topaz, was on Tuesday apprehended by the Nigerian Police Force after three months of allegedly evading arrest. Adebare, who had allegedly been in hiding, was finally apprehended and he’s set to face court charges for land grabbing, fraud, forgery, and criminal trespass before Justice Mojisola Dada.
Adebare’s arrest follows an extensive investigation into allegations made by the “Resettlement Committee on Abomiti, Yeguda, and Eyin-Osa.” The committee, responsible for managing the land acquired by the Lagos State Government for the Lekki Free Trade project, raised serious concerns regarding Adebare’s activities.
Adebare was alleged to be a fraudster who specializes in using either government-acquisition land or land already allocated to another to defraud innocent land buyers through his company Topaz Gardens.
According to the charges, Police investigation and legal advice from the CP Legal Office in charge of the case from Abuja, a letter was earlier this year sent to the Commissioner of Police, Legal/Prosecution Section, Force Criminal Intelligent Investigation Department (FCIID), seeking advice on the report on multiple offenses against Murphy Adebare and the charges including the unlawful invasion of landed property, malicious damage, conspiracy, harassment, fraudulent sale of Eyin Osa land, giving false information to mislead law enforcement officers and conduct likely to cause a breach of peace in the metropolitan area of Lagos State which contravene the Lagos State Properties Protection Law 2016.
The Eyin Osa committee provided substantial evidence to support their claims of being the authorized body entrusted with managing the land. In contrast, Adebare allegedly failed to produce credible evidence during the investigation to substantiate his claim of acquiring the land legally.
The individuals he alleged to have sold the land to him also denied such transactions because the portion he is claiming doesn’t even belong to the witness he provided during the DIG interview.
Based on the evidence gathered, the investigating team concluded that a prima facie case had been established against Adebare and his associates. They recommended that charges be brought against them, including conspiracy, criminal trespass, assault, forceful takeover, illegal occupation of property, illegal use of law enforcement agents, encroachment with a weapon, and frivolous petitions.
Following his arrest, Adebare was detained at the Area J Police Station in Ajah, Lagos.
However, concerns have arisen regarding the involvement of a ranking senior police officer serving under the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Force Criminal Intelligence Department (CID), Mr. Egbetokun, who is allegedly putting pressure to secure Adebare’s release on bail without surety to obstruct the court from hearing the criminal charges hearing scheduled for today, knowningfully that Murphy Adebare will not go to court willingly because he had once been declared wanted on land-grabbing case.
Murphy Adebare also alleged to have been organizing high level invasion with Razaq Sule A.K.A Sucess Sars and Sir .K. Oluwo to invade the peaceful resettlement land.
The actions of the officers working with the DIG Egbetokun have raised eyebrows, with Eyin Osa landowners questioning the potential interference in the judicial process. The case must proceed fairly and impartially to ensure justice is served and the rule of law upheld.
As Adebare prepares to face court charges today, the Nigerian public awaits the outcome of this high-profile case, hoping for a fair and transparent legal process that will bring about accountability for the land-grabbing crimes allegedly committed by the CEO of Topaz Property who was once declared wanted by the Zone 2 command on similar offense in 2018.
