Metro

Police Detain DJ Over Friend’s Offence, Family Kicks

Published

1 year ago

December 29, 2022

Editor

The family of a disc jockey, Olashile Balogun, have accused men of the New Oko Oba Police Station, Lagos State, of detaining their son for his friend’s crime.

The police also allegedly tortured the victim for the three days he was in detention.

It was gathered that policemen from the station stormed Olashile’s house on Olisa Street, New Oko Oba, Lagos, on December 19 around 10.52pm.

His pregnant wife was said to have called his brother, Francis, who went to the police station.

Francis said, “On getting there, I was told to come back the following morning. I reached there that morning and met the IPO and she told me that my brother’s friend, Sunday, burgled the room of a lady, who is a tenant in the compound, and carted away valuables. I was told that they saw him give my brother a bag. When the police couldn’t see Sunday, they came to pick up my brother that night.

“I visited the scene of the incident to confirm that the room was burgled and also went back to the police station to tell them that my brother could not be held responsible for a crime committed by his friend, an action that is against the police code of conduct. They refused to hear me out, so I went to meet the lady at home and told her that she must visit the station with me. She wasn’t forthcoming but I stood my ground and she later followed me to the station.

“The police told her to go home and leave me alone but I said she wasn’t going anywhere until we got to the root of the matter. I said if they wanted to charge my brother to court they should do that and if they allowed her to leave for her house I would still go to her house and disturb her because my brother was innocent.

“Then the DCO told the IPO to arrest me, saying I was threatening the lady. I was placed at the counter. I called my lawyer and he came and told them that they had no case against me and after much persuasion, I was released.

“The lady said my brother was not a party to the crime and even wrote a statement to that effect that the police should release him. But after she left, the police did not release my brother and started demanding money for his release.”

Francis said he begged them for his brother’s release but the police refused.

He said he returned to the station on the third day of his brother’s detention.

“I give them the money before he was released to me. I also bought drinks for them. Olashile was harassed. He has been traumatised since he came out of the station, refusing to eat, bathe or talk because of what happened to him,” he added.

Olashile confirmed that Sunday was his friend.

The father of two, however, denied collecting any bag from him on the day of the incident.

The PUNCH could not speak further with Olashile as he was traumatised by the incident.

The lady, identified only as Ifeoluwa, confirmed the incident but directed our correspondent to the police for further inquiries.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, said Olashile was released after nothing incriminating was found in his house.

He said, “He was alleged to have received a black bag which was stolen from the room of one Ifeoluwa by one Sunday, now at large. He was arrested and detained but was later released on bail after a search warrant was executed in his house and premises and nothing incriminating was found.”

Section 36 of the Police Act prohibits the arrest of any person in place of a suspect.

Section 7 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 also states that a person shall not be arrested in place of a suspect.

A lawyer, Festus Ogun, said the action of the police officers was unconstitutional, adding that the victim should file a fundamental rights suit against the police.

Metro

JUST IN: Terrorists Kill Vigilantes, Abduct Two Village Heads, Others In Kaduna

Published

4 hours ago

May 3, 2024

Editor

Some terrorists have reportedly killed eight vigilante members and two other persons in Kakangi and Unguwan Matinja communities in the Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

The village heads of Kakangi and Kisaya villages under Kakangi Ward were also abducted.

A resident of the LG identified as Idris Khalid, who confirmed the incident to our correspondent, said the gun-wielding men invaded the villages at about early Thursday.

The eight vigilante members who were killed in Kakangi were Bala Kamba, Abdurrahman Musa (Ubale), Kabiru Dan Dugui, Hambali Abu, Aliyu Abu, Nura Jika (Maleka), Mubarak Musa (Dan Wamba) and Ikra Hantsi.

Khalid added that the two victims in the Ungwan Matinja community under Gayam Ward were identified as Christopher Abubakar and Isah Gambo.

He said the vigilantes were attacked while trailing the kidnapped victims who were abducted on their way to a burial between Kakangi and Sabon Layi.

“The vigilantes engaged the terrorists, killing scores of them but could not rescue the two traditional rulers and others.

“Normally, anytime there is a kidnap incident, the vigilantes always trail the terrorists to rescue the victims.

“It’s unfortunate that in the process, eight gallant officers of the vigilantes who have been sacrificing in ensuring the safety of our people were lost,” the resident said.

When contacted, the Public Relations Officer of the State Police Command, ASP Mansir Hassan, said, “We are investigating the matter to unravel the true story because the area where the incident happened had a network problem.”

Metro

Court Remands Tenant For Setting Landlord’s House On Fire In Ibadan

Published

18 hours ago

May 2, 2024

Editor

An Iyaganku Chief Magistrates’ Court in Ibadan on Thursday ordered that a 35-year-old man, Dickson Peter, be remanded in a correction facility for allegedly setting his landlord’s house on fire.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the police charged the defendant with two counts of felony and arson.

The Magistrate, Mr M. Mudashiru, who did not take his plea due to lack of jurisdiction, ordered that he be remanded in the Abolongo Correctional Facility, Oyo Town.

Mudashiru said the remand is pending legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP).

He adjourned the matter until July 23, 2024, for reference.

Earlier, the Prosecution Counsel, Insp. Femi Oluwadare told the court that Peter, on April 18, at about 12:30 am, was alleged to have unlawfully set fire to the house of his landlord, Cepas Okeme, and destroyed properties worth N6.5 million.

Oluwadare said that after he set the building on fire, it also spread to the next house property belonging to Bose Ali ‘F’ and destroyed property worth N3.5 million.

He said the offence contravened the provisions of Section 443 of the Criminal Code Laws of Oyo State 2000.

Metro

Officer Who Shot Man Dead During Fuel Queue Tumult Identified — Lagos Police

Published

19 hours ago

May 2, 2024

Editor

The Lagos State Police Command said it has identified the police officer who shot a young man, Toheeb Eniafe, at a petrol station on Wednesday.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin disclosed this on Thursday.

He said, “The person behind the shooting has been identified as a police officer serving at Special Protection Unit (SPU) Base 17, Lion Building, Lagos.

“Investigation is still ongoing and further findings will be made available.

“Meanwhile, the Lagos State Police Command is working with the family of the deceased to ensure that there is no miscarriage of justice.”

Recall that Eniafe was shot on Wednesday at a petrol station belonging to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited at Obalende in the Ikoyi area of Lagos State.

Eniafe was reported to have been shot dead while he and some others were resisting the move by some security agents to buy fuel without joining the queue.