Communities affected by the protracted Iweke and adjoining villages’ land dispute in Yewa South local government area of Ogun State have demanded answers over the arrest and alleged denial of access to lawyer and relatives of Mr. Seye Olatunji.
In a statement signed by Idowu Olayanju on behalf of Iweke, Ilobi-Omuwa, KotoObo, Idode communities in Ilaro, Yewa South, the communities called on the Inspector-General of Police, the Ogun State Governor, the Attorney-General of Ogun State, the Police Service Commission and the National Human Rights Commission to intervene.
According to the statement, at approximately 5:00 a.m. on 10 November 2026, a team identified by residents as police officers, operating in plain clothes and reportedly led by an officer known as “Supp Bola,” descended on members of the communities.
Residents reported that several people, believing the approaching men to be armed robbers, fled in fear.
Mr. Olatunji was arrested and taken to Abeokuta.
The statement said from approximately 11:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. on the same day, his lawyer and relatives were denied access to him at Eleweran, Abeokuta.
Quoting his lawyer, Mr. Olusola Adenuga, the statement said: “I was told that he would be taken to court, but was given no information identifying the court, its location, or the proposed date and time of his appearance. As a matter of fact a promise to take a man to court does not answer a lawyer’s request to see his client.”
Reacting to the incident, Lawyer Gbenga Adegboye, described as a leading lawyer in the matter, was quoted as saying: “These developments are deeply disturbing and demand immediate intervention. Sections 35 and 37 of the Police Act protect a suspect’s right to consult a lawyer and to receive humane treatment. Why, then, are we being denied access to our client?”
Adegboye was also quoted as saying the police had no authority to invalidate a subsisting court order and that the order must be obeyed unless set aside by a competent court.
The communities demanded immediate access to Mr. Olatunji and full disclosure of the allegations against him.
The communities said the incident must be examined against the history of the dispute, stating that since 2025, the farming communities have reported invasions, destruction of farms and crops, and alleged intimidation connected with contested land.
They listed their records to include a restraining order issued by the Customary Court, Ilaro, on 27 March 2026; correspondence dated 15 October 2026 conveying the Chief Judge’s directive confirming the order’s continuing validity; and a government forensic boundary survey conducted on 22 October 2026.
The statement added that numerous petitions had sought protection and lawful investigation and that His Royal Majesty, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle, had also intervened through palace peace and fact-finding proceedings, but residents continue to report fear and insecurity.
According to the lawyers, the denial of access has heightened the family’s concern that Mr. Olatunji could face unsupported allegations, including allegations involving firearms.
The statement clarified that this is a concern, not confirmation that any such charge has been made or that evidence has been fabricated.
The communities demanded immediate access to Mr. Olatunji by his lawyer, confirmation of his welfare, and reasonable access by his family; disclosure of the grounds for his arrest, the investigating unit and the officer responsible for his custody; prompt release if there is no lawful basis for continued detention, or timely production before a competent court; preservation of all arrest, custody, interview and search records; and urgent independent scrutiny of the operation and the wider handling of the dispute.
They also asked journalists, the Nigerian Bar Association and human rights organisations to launch an investigation into the land grabbing saga, seek an immediate response from the Ogun State Police Command and independently establish Mr. Olatunji’s condition, access to counsel and any proposed court appearance.
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