Police Arrest Four Security Guards For Breaking Into Lagos Law Firm Linked To Late Uche Ibeto’s Family Property
Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force, Zone Two Command, Lagos, have arrested four private security agents for allegedly breaking into and ransacking the Surulere office of law firm S. O. Onwubualili & Co.
The firm, located at No. 36, Ibezim Obiajulu Street, Off Marsha Road, is situated within a property owned by the late Uche Ibeto, mother of Laura Okoh, Ifeoma Ilodibe, and musician Ms. Uche Ibeto, popularly known as the Jigida Queen.
Principal partner, Barrister Onwubualili Sylvester, told SaharaReporters that the suspects — two uniformed guards and two members of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) — broke into his chambers on September 8 and carted away case files, books, printers, chairs, and other equipment. They were arrested two days later.
“They broke into my office and packed everything out — my books, equipment, chairs, printers, everything was outside,” Sylvester said, lamenting that sensitive case files were destroyed in the process.
According to him, the arrested suspects confessed during police interrogation that they acted on the instructions of Victor Giwa, counsel to property developer Cecil Ezem Osakwe, who allegedly directed them to search for title documents believed to be in the office.
The dispute traces back to a bitter family feud over the Surulere property. SaharaReporters had earlier reported that Ms. Uche Ibeto, the Jigida Queen, was forcibly evicted from her residence in the same building by her elder sister, Laura Okoh, allegedly in connivance with a judicial officer and Osakwe.
In a petition to the Lagos State Chief Judge and the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 2, Ms. Ibeto alleged that valuables worth over ₦500 million were stolen or damaged during the eviction, which also led to her tenants, including the law firm, being sealed out.
Speaking on Monday, Barrister Sylvester expressed dismay at the brazenness of the act.
“They had the audacity to break into a law firm because they believe in Nigeria there are no consequences if you have money. Everything is about money; once you have money, the law will be on your side,” he said.
He confirmed that the Deputy Commissioner of Police handling the matter had ordered an inspection of the premises after the eviction, leading to the discovery of the break-in. The four suspects were later arrested, and the property has since been secured under police supervision.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Zone 2 Lagos, SP Umma Ayuba, when contacted, requested a text message but had not responded at the time of filing this report.
