The Ogun State Government has cautioned a senior police officer with the Force Intelligence Department in Abuja, Assistant Inspector-General of Police Enyinnaya Adioguto, against conducting what it described as a parallel probe into a land dispute involving the World Mission Agency (WMA), owners of Living Faith Church Worldwide in Sango-Ota.
In a letter dated May 23, the state’s Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Oluwasina Ogungbade, advised the officer to refrain from investigating claims of criminal conspiracy, threats to life, and unlawful possession of firearms reportedly filed against the mission by one Ibrahim Gbenga Ibuoye.
The government noted that Ibuoye is already standing trial before a Magistrates’ Court in Abeokuta over allegations including forceful entry, illegal takeover of land, and acts of intimidation and violence linked to the disputed property.
Ogungbade stressed that since the matter is before a competent court, any separate police investigation would be inappropriate and could interfere with the judicial process.
He reiterated that it is established law that once a case is in court, no party should take actions capable of undermining the court’s authority or jurisdiction.
The Attorney-General also questioned why a defendant who has been on trial since 2025 would suddenly present himself as a complainant in the same matter.
He accused Ibuoye of flouting due process by petitioning the Force Headquarters and positioning himself as a victim after allegedly trespassing on land belonging to WMA—property the government said is backed by valid ownership documents and official approvals.
Providing context, Ogungbade explained that WMA acquired the land around 2001 from a family recognized by the Ogun State High Court as the rightful owner and subsequently secured the property with fencing.
He, however, alleged that Ibuoye and another individual unlawfully pulled down the fence, occupied more than 100 acres of the land, and engaged in illegal sand mining, causing significant damage.
The state government therefore directed the police officer to discontinue any parallel investigation, withdraw invitations issued to WMA officials, and adhere to directives from the Inspector-General of Police against duplicating case files.
It also commended past and present Inspectors-General of Police, including Kayode Egbetokun and Olatunji Disu, for their efforts to promote professionalism and curb abuse of police procedures, particularly in discouraging parallel investigations in cases already before the courts.