The ownership tussle over Abuja’s River Park Estate has taken a new twist. A letter from the head of the IGP Monitoring Unit, Commissioner of Police Akin Fakorede, directed FCT agencies to deal only with Paulo Homes Nigeria Limited.
The letter, dated August 7, 2025, was sent to the Director of Land Administration. Copies also went to the Abuja Geographic Information System (AGIS), Development Control, and Paulo Homes. Critics say the order undermines the ministerial committee set up by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike. The committee was created to settle the long-standing dispute.
The move appears to contradict Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun. In July, he ordered a fresh probe after reviewing a Special Investigation Panel (SIP) report. On July 20, Force PRO ACP Muyiwa Adejobi confirmed the IGP’s directive for further investigations.
Police sources say the SIP presented evidence that challenged Fakorede’s earlier conclusions. A senior officer described the new letter as “an attempt to undermine the Minister’s committee and the Attorney-General’s review.”
Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, had ordered the police to suspend action until his office completed its review. Fakorede’s directive appears to ignore that instruction. Analysts fear that targeting AGIS and Development Control could risk tampering with land records.
During the July 2 meeting, the IGP stressed that the police lack legal authority to decide land ownership. Such cases, he said, belong in court. Fakorede himself admitted that forgery allegations tied to the case remain under review.
Attention now shifts to the FCT Ministerial Committee. Observers say its ability to act independently will determine if the River Park dispute is resolved fairly or complicated further by vested interests.
