Residents Cry Foul as Sheriff, Police Officers Allegedly Enforce Court Order at Wrong Address in Lagos

Residents Cry Foul as Sheriff, Police Officers Allegedly Enforce Court Order at Wrong Address in Lagos

Lagos, Nigeria – Chaos erupted at 35 Folale Street, Mushin, Lagos, on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, when a team of individuals alleged to be court sheriffs, accompanied by police officers, forcibly evicted residents and removed their belongings under the claim of executing a court order—only to later admit to a possible error in the address.

Mrs. Ipomo Okeke, the homeowner, recounted the traumatic incident, stating that at approximately 7:10 AM, two unidentified men arrived at the gate and demanded to speak with the occupants. Upon entry, they declared they were executing a court order from the Lagos State High Court and demanded that all residents vacate the premises.

“They didn’t show me any document properly,” Mrs. Okeke said, visibly distraught. “They just barged in and started throwing our property out without verifying anything.”

According to her, the situation escalated quickly as over a dozen individuals—alongside six police officers, including one female officer—stormed the building, broke into apartments, and began removing and allegedly looting valuables including gold jewelry, foreign currencies, documents, and personal effects.

“I begged them to wait and let me call my lawyer,” she said. “When I tried to reason with them, one of them demanded N5.7 million to stop the eviction. I managed to raise ₦500,000 with the help of my bank manager, but by the time I returned, everything was destroyed.”

Residents said the invading team damaged furniture, electronics, and other belongings, while some tenants claimed they were coerced into making cash transfers to avoid further destruction of their property.

Another resident, Mr. Samuel Obichi Debem, corroborated the account. “They came in like thugs,” he said. “They dismantled our ACs, broke our doors, damaged TVs, and scattered everything. My wardrobe and appliances were ruined.”

Mrs. Okeke, who said she legally purchased the property in 2017, explained that after contacting members of the family she bought the house from, none were aware of any ongoing court case. Disturbingly, she said one of the individuals involved later confessed there had been a mistake in the address.

“He came back after the damage was done and said, ‘Madam, we’re sorry. It looks like we got the wrong house,’” she lamented. “But by then, everything was gone.”

Residents are now calling on the Lagos State Government and Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to urgently investigate the matter and ensure justice is served. They are also demanding compensation for damages and the immediate prosecution of those involved.

“The trauma is unbearable,” Mrs. Okeke added. “We need justice. We need help.”

As of press time, neither the Lagos State High Court nor the Lagos State Police Command had issued an official statement regarding the incident.