The Nigerian Police, Airport Command, yesterday detained the General Manager, AIC Limited, Chief Niyi Akande, over the airport land controversy between the company and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN.
Also, the company’s president, Chief Harry Akande, was also invited for interrogation by the command, but the business mogul declined the invitation when he got wind of the earlier invitation and detention of his son.
The police, however, debunked the claim of Niyi’s detention, but confirmed his invitation.
There was a tension at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, MMIA, Lagos, as both parties involved in the land tussle stormed the venue with security operatives to carry out their missions.
Last week, FAAN took over the contested land, allowing airport workers to park their vehicles there.
The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos had told the two parties involved in the crisis to vacate the land until the issue was resolved by the court, but Akande insisted that the breaking into the land by FAAN contravened an existing court order.
At the scene yesterday, the Commissioner of Police, Airport Command, Mr. Saliu Wasiu, invited Niyi Akande to his office when his father and escorts blocked the entrance into the car park,
The development prevented vehicles from going in or exiting the land.
The commissioner, after the interrogation of Niyi, ordered his men to detain him and allegedly labelled him and others terrorists, but Niyi was later reportedly released by the police.
Speaking to aviation correspondents, the Personal Assistant to Chief Harry Akande, Mr. Gbenga Akinyemi, said the contentious parcel of land was leased to AIC Limited by the Federal Government.
He wondered why FAAN has over the years prevented the company from developing it.
Akinyemi described the parking of cars in the premises as illegal and abuse of court judgement.
He alleged that the commissioner of police was taking sides with FAAN on the issue, despite being served the court order.
