The Lagos State Police Command Zone 2 is investigating a land tussle between a lecturer at the University of Lagos, Tunde Folorunsho, and a landlord, Alhaji Rasheed Adetokunbo.

The PUNCH reported that Folorunsho accused Adetokunbo of defrauding him of N6m, the payment for a piece of land on Adetokunbo Street, Baruwa-Cardoso, in the Ipaja, Alimosho area of Lagos State.

After receiving the payment, the land owner was said to have denied the 41-year-old access to the property; giving different excuses that did not add up.

The landowner gave an excuse that his son wants to wed in April 2021, he even printed an invitation card to the wedding that did not eventually hold, the lecturer added.

However, instead of granting Folorunsho access to the property, the landowner reported the victim to the police who then invited the lecturer for questioning.

Narrating his ordeal, Folorunsho said, “Around February 2021, through the help of Baba Olanrewaju Yaya and Samson Ajibade, I met Alhaji Rasheed Adetokunbo, who built his house on two plots of land and said he wanted to sell part of the land for N6m.

“We agreed on the price and I paid N5m into his company’s account, Butos Ventures Limited. I paid the N1m balance when I took the deed to him, but he said he wanted one of his sons to witness the signing, so I demanded a receipt, which he gave me.

“He later signed the deed. However, when I wanted to commence work on the land, he told me to wait because one of his sons was about to wed.

“The wedding did not hold, and I called him to take possession of the land, but he said I should wait till Eid-El-Kebir. After much pleading, I agreed. After Eid-El-Kabir, Adetokunbo called again to say that his children were fighting him for selling the land.

“He said I should wait till October, but I refused and my lawyer petitioned him and later told him to write an undertaking and give a date for me to take possession of the land. Adetokunbo said on or before December 31, 2021.

“We were waiting for the date when Yaya informed me that the Zone 2 Police Command summoned us for questioning. We visited the command on January 12, 2022, met Adetokunbo, whose lawyer, among other claims, said in a petition that I brought armed men to invade the land,” he added.

Folorunsho, who decried the use of the police for intimidation, said all he wanted was to take possession of the land.

“When my lawyer told him that he would charge the matter to court, he said it was a waste of time because judgment would be delayed,” he added.

The publication added that copies of the deed of assignment, receipt, among other documents confirmed that there was an agreement between Folorunsho and the landlord.

Adetokunbo confirmed the lecturer purchased when contacted but said, “there is a little problem in the family regarding the land and I have told him to exercise patience so everything can be done accordingly.”

The spokesperson for the Zone 2 Police Command, SP Hauwa Idris, said the investigation was ongoing into the matter.