Prominent Lagos socialite, Gail Fajembola, has approached the Federal High Court in Lagos, seeking to restrain the Inspector-General of Police and others from allegedly harassing her over a property dispute involving a luxury apartment on Banana Island.
In a suit filed through her counsel, Akin Apara of BA LAW LLP, Fajembola is demanding an order of perpetual injunction to stop what she describes as unconstitutional interference in a civil matter.
She has also demanded ₦50 million in damages for what she terms “unlawful and unconstitutional interference” with her rights.
The suit names as respondents the Inspector-General of Police, the Assistant Inspector-General (Zone 2), the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, one Ogbonna Nweke, Olutoyl Estate Development & Services, and businessman Tunde Ayeni.
Fajembola’s legal action centres on Flat K9-2, Ocean Parade Towers, Banana Island, Ikoyi, which she asserts has become the subject of intimidation tactics rather than legal processes.
According to the court documents, the police are allegedly being used to coerce her into evicting a tenant from the disputed property.
She argues that “The police cannot misuse its powers under the guise of investigating a civil transaction to intimidate her into evicting a lawful tenant or surrendering possession of a disputed property.”
In the suit, she is seeking a judicial declaration that:
“Any threats by the police to arrest or detain her over a private civil dispute are unconstitutional, oppressive, and a violation of her rights to dignity, liberty, and freedom of movement.”
The complaint includes an affidavit sworn by litigation clerk Olawale Arowosaye, which details how the dispute arose from what was once a cordial relationship between Fajembola and Ayeni.
According to the affidavit, Ayeni allowed Fajembola to move into the apartment in 2016. She later spent $45,792 to furnish it and resided there until her relocation to the United Kingdom in 2019.
In her absence, the apartment was used as a short-let property and later leased in 2022 to Expand Global Industries.
Fajembola insists that this lease was done with Ayeni’s full awareness and verbal approval.
However, she claims that after their personal relationship deteriorated, efforts began in January 2025 to pressure her into evicting the tenant and returning the apartment to Ayeni and the estate firm.
She alleges that “Rather than pursue lawful eviction proceedings, the fifth and sixth respondents resorted to police intervention, summoning me, my agent, and representatives of the tenant to their office, where we were subjected to intimidation and pressure to vacate the property.”
Fajembola also addressed media speculation surrounding the matter:
“At no time was I arrested or detained. I never claimed ownership of the apartment or attempted to sell it to anyone. I am shocked by recent publications implying otherwise.”
She confirmed that “The property was formally handed over to Ayeni and Olutoyl Estate in April 2025, with my furnishings and household items still in place. I have moved on.”
However, she says the harassment has resumed, this time allegedly involving renewed police pressure and adverse media coverage.
“These threats have made me avoid travelling to Lagos and have caused significant psychological distress,” she stated.
Fajembola is now seeking the court’s protection against what she describes as the abuse of police authority in a matter that, in her view, should be settled through lawful civil proceedings.
The respondents are expected to file their responses to the lawsuit in the coming weeks.
