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The Ogun State Ministry of Justice has raised the alarm over the increasing misuse of the criminal justice system to settle disputes that are purely civil in nature, warning that the practice undermines the rule of law and violates citizens’ constitutional rights.
The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Oluwasina Ogungbade, who disclosed this in a statement issued in Abeokuta, said matters involving contracts, tenancy, domestic relationships and land ownership are increasingly being taken to the police instead of civil courts.
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According to the Ministry, the criminal justice system is designed to investigate and prosecute genuine crimes, not to be deployed as a tool of intimidation or leverage in private disagreements.
It stressed that the use of police powers in civil disputes is unlawful and inconsistent with constitutional guarantees of personal liberty, human dignity and fair hearing, adding that existing laws expressly prohibit arrest or detention in respect of civil wrongs or breaches of contract.
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The Ministry noted that beyond violating individual rights, the trend places unnecessary strain on law enforcement agencies, diverting attention and resources away from the fight against crime.
Highlighting recent interventions, the Ministry disclosed that it had filed a Fundamental Rights Enforcement action on behalf of a tenant, Mrs Aishat Idowu, who was unlawfully arrested by her landlord over a tenancy dispute.
In another case, a woman was allegedly detained by police following a personal disagreement with her lover, who also dispossessed her of property. The Ministry said its intervention secured her release and the restoration of her belongings.
The ministry further revealed that land disputes remain the most common avenue for the abuse of criminal processes. It explained that petitions alleging land grabbing and police requests for legal advice on land matters are now being thoroughly screened to ensure that only cases with genuine criminal elements are prosecuted.
Reaffirming the state government’s commitment to justice and the protection of fundamental rights, the ministry urged residents to seek redress for civil grievances through the courts or recognised dispute resolution mechanisms rather than resorting to unlawful police involvement.
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