News circulating on a couple of media outlets are claiming Murphy Adebare, popularly known as Topaz, was on Tuesday arrested by the Nigerian Police Force after three months of allegedly evading arrest.
The reports claim he will be facing court charges for this allegations land grabbing, criminal trespassing and amongst others before Justice Mojisola Dada.
Adebare was said to have been arrested following an extensive investigation into allegations made by the "Resettlement Committee on Abomiti, Yeguda, and Eyin-Osa." The committee, said to be responsible for managing the land acquired by the Lagos State Government for the Lekki Free Trade project, raised serious concerns regarding Adebare's activities.
The reports claim that Adebare specializes in using either government-acquisition land or land already allocated to another to defraud innocent land buyers through his company Topaz Gardens.
The reports continue to claim that 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.
Adebare was accused further that the individuals he allegedly sold the land to 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, the media reports also mentioned the involvement of a ranking senior police officer serving under the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Force Criminal Intelligence Department (CID), 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.
While these reports may raise concerns, it is crucial to respect the principles of presumption of innocence until proven guilty. Adebare deserves a fair chance to present his side of the story and defend himself against any allegations made against him.
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.
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