By Stella Woke
A Civil Society Organization, the Citizens Advocacy for Social and Economic Rights (CASER) has called on the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate the Surveyor-General of the Federation, Surveyor Abdulganiyu Adebomehin, and other officials over alleged corruption, abuse of office and diversion of public resources.
CASER made the request in a petition dated October 14, 2026, which the commission acknowledged on October 16. The petition was signed by the organisation’s Executive Director, Frank Tietie,
Addressing journalists at a media briefing in Abuja on Thursday, Tietie alleged that military and police personnel, alongside civilian agents acting under the authority of the Office of the Surveyor-General of the Federation (OSGOF), invaded Plots 5, 6, 7 and 8 in Maiyegun Tourism Zone, Lekki Peninsula Scheme II, on August 15, 2026.
According to the petition, the team allegedly removed the signboard of BraveMatt Property and Investment Limited, which occupies and claims the property, installed two 40-foot shipping containers on the site and threatened workers with lethal force.
The organisation accused the officials of allegedly deploying government personnel, vehicles and other public resources to serve private commercial interests.
CASER also referred to a September 1, 2026, response signed by Amali Ati on behalf of the Surveyor-General, which reportedly acknowledged OSGOF's intervention following representations by Industrial and General Insurance Limited.
The insurance company had reportedly asserted claims on behalf of 44 Hospitality Limited, also known as Four H Limited or 4H Nigeria Limited.
Questioning the legal basis for the intervention, CASER argued that OSGOF had no statutory authority to act as a debt recovery or land recovery agency in a dispute involving private entities.
“OSGOF has no statutory power to function as a debt or land recovery agency, nor does it have legal authority to deploy armed personnel or engage in self-help,” the petition stated.
The group said the alleged use of public resources to dispossess one private entity in favour of another raised concerns about possible corrupt advantage under Section 19 of the ICPC Act.
It further alleged that the incident created a situation in which public authority could have been used as an instrument for private enforcement.
CASER asked the ICPC to investigate Adebomehin and other officials allegedly involved in the operation, exercising its investigative powers under Section 6 of the Act.
It also requested a comprehensive audit of OSGOF's financial and operational records relating to the incident, including task-force authorisations, security requests, vehicle logbooks and expenditure approvals.
The organisation urged the commission to question directors and representatives of Industrial and General Insurance Limited and 44 Hospitality Limited to establish whether any benefits, inducements or improper arrangements were offered to public officials.
It further called for an examination of relevant bank records and financial intelligence to determine whether payments, gratification or logistical funding passed directly or indirectly between the private claimants and OSGOF officials.
CASER said anyone found culpable should be prosecuted if investigations establish evidence of criminal wrongdoing.
However, the organisation acknowledged that the underlying boundary and possession dispute was pending before the Lagos State High Court, stressing that neither CASER nor OSGOF was a party to the case.
“This criminal petition is not asking the ICPC to determine land ownership or title,” it stated.
The group maintained that its complaint was specifically concerned with the alleged misuse of public office and federal resources to advance private interests, rather than the determination of ownership of the disputed property.