Nigerian international professional footballer, Mr. Ofoedu Francis Chikeluba, is at the centre of a growing controversy following allegations that a violent and unlawful eviction from his Lekki property culminated in the death of his tenant, Pastor Bolaji Olukotun, aged 67 years.

The family of the deceased is pointing accusing fingers at officers of the Ilasan Police Division for allegedly attempting to frustrate a proper criminal investigation through alleged collusion with the Admiralty Estate Head of Security.

The incident, which occurred on Saturday, July 11, 2026, at House B11, Admiralty Homes Estate, off Alpha Beach Road, Lekki, Lagos, has sparked calls for an independent investigation into what the family describes as an unlawful, self-help eviction that ended in tragedy.

THE BACKGROUND

According to Mr. Akpobome Deniran, solicitor to the family of the late Pastor Bolaji Olukotun, the clergy man had entered into a tenancy agreement with Chikeluba in February 2025 for the occupation of the luxury five-bedroom duplex. The parties had reportedly discussed a rent-to-own arrangement under which the tenant hoped to eventually purchase the property.

The tenancy later became the subject of disagreements after negotiations for renewal and purchase broke down, leading to service of statutory notice to recover possession by the landlord. However, Deniran claims that there was no court order authorising eviction of the deceased tenant before the events of July 11, 2026. The solicitor emphasized that under Nigerian law, a landlord is prohibited from recovering possession of premises through self-help and without first obtaining an order of court.

THE FATAL EVICTION

It was alleged that on the fateful day, Pastor Bolaji was surrounded by armed men, with his belongings already packed outside the house. It was also alleged that collapsed in severe pain while being dragged outside the house and dumped into muddy water by his attackers before being dragged back into the premises. It was at this stage that neighbours intervened after the attackers had left the premises. They administered first aid to the deceased and rushed him to Udeco Medical Center, Chevron, Lekki. He died in the early hours of Sunday, July 12, 2026.

According to Deniran, the family of the deceased maintains that Pastor Bolaji’s death was a direct result of the assault in the hands of his attackers. They are demanding a thorough forensic investigation into the circumstances leading to the death of the tenant, including a post-mortem examination, toxicology tests and preservation of all physical and electronic evidence.

THE ROLE OF THE ESTATE HEAD OF SECURITY

The family also allege that the Head of Security of Admiralty Homes Estate, one Angela, granted access to the estate to the attackers without insisting on a court order, adding that she allegedly refused to intervene when the deceased pleaded for help during the incident.

Two days after the incident, Angela allegedly returned to the premises and informed the occupants that she had instructions from “the owner” to lock up the premises and move all occupants out, notwithstanding that investigation was ongoing in the matter and there was no court order directing eviction of the tenants.

POLICE CONDUCT AND ALLEGED COLLUSION

The family accuses officers of the Ilasan Police Division of negligence, adding that they repeatedly dismissed the matter as a “landlord-and-tenant dispute” despite the presence of armed thugs and a Mobile Police Officer at the scene.

According to Deniran, the family alleges that after Pastor Bolaji’s death, the officers failed to secure the scene upon visiting it, preserve evidence, arrest identified suspects or promptly transfer the matter to a specialised investigative unit. The officers also allegedly attempted to characterise the death as “suicide,” adding that the attackers mocked the deceased as “acting drama.” The officers allegedly employed a “no body, no case” excuse, claiming that they could not act without seeing the deceased’s corpse or obtaining a death certificate.

THE FCID PETITION AND DELAY IN APPROVAL

According to Deniran, a petition has since been submitted to the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), Alagbon, Ikoyi, requesting an independent investigation, the arrest of all persons allegedly involved, forensic examination of available evidence and an investigation into the conduct of officers who initially handled the case.

The family has however expressed deep concern that the petition is still awaiting approval, a delay they describe as inexplicable given the urgency of the matter. The family claims that the suspects continue to move freely within the estate, raising fears of tampering with witnesses and evidence.

THE FAMILY’S DEMAND

The family has accused the landlord of being the major suspect behind the demise of their bread-winner while urging immediate approval of the FCID petition and speedy investigation into the circumstances that led to the death of Pastor Olukotun. Chikeluba is yet to respond to the allegations.

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