A civil rights organisation, the Centre for Human Rights and Social Justice (CHRSJ) has called on relevant authorities to beam their investigative light on the activities of personnel attached to the Area ‘F’ Command of the Lagos State Command of the Nigerian Police Force (NPF).
This is coming just as the group is calling on authorities to prevent service personnel attached to the Area “F’ from further harassing, threatening and intimidating an Ajuwon, Ogun State based auto dealer, Mr. Oderinde Olakunle Kamar (+2349084169007 &+2348062778510), whom the group stated has abandoned his home due to incessant raid by the errant policemen.
In a statement issued by the Executive Chairman of CHRSJ, Comrade Adeniyi A. Sulaiman in Lagos on Monday, the group is also calling on the Nigeria Police Service Commission (NPSC), National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), #ENDSARS Judicial Panel, National Police Council (NPC), Chairmen of Police Committees of the National Assembly to beam their searchlight on the police in Lagos Area ‘F’ Command for going beyond their mecuantancy.
The group also lauded the Commissioner of Police in charge of Lagos State, Mr. Hakeem Odumosu for instituting a probe into the activities of some police formations such as Iba Police Station, Panti State CID, Bode Thomas Police, Meiran, Ojodu and others.
“We are bringing to your notice, the unwholesome practice and conducts of personnel attached to Area ‘F’ Police Command. We are using this platform to call on the state police commissioner and other relevant government agencies to beam their searchlights on the activities of these policemen who in many occasions go beyond their bounds and call of duty to perpetrate their evil acts.” Sulaiman said.
Specifically, CHRSJ accused men of the Area ‘F’ Command of carrying out unlawful duty of arresting an auto dealer based in Ajuwon area of Ogun State, which is clearly outside their area of jurisdiction and command.
According to the group, the auto dealer, Oderinde Olakunle Kamar sold a Nigerian used vehicle, 2009 model of Toyota Camry to a customer, Mr. John Tyoapine (+2348066149736) on the 21st of November, 2020 at the rate of N1, 850,000.00 (One Million, Eight Hundred & Fifty Thousand Naira).
“When Tyoapine bought the vehicle, he came with his mechanic who certified it as okay to be bought and payment was made by him only for him to come back to state that he has decided to arrest Kamar on 28th of January, 2021, alleging that the engine of the vehicle had ceased to function.” Sulaiman stated.
An invitation letter dated 24th of January signed by one Asegun Mathew, a Superintendent of Police (+2348060780025) was sent to Kamar requesting him to report to the Area Crime Officer via the signatory on or before the 28th of January, 2021.
In his response, the lawyer to the embattled auto dealer, Mr. Ohemu Boni (+2348065432012, +2348121638832 or +2348090572391) who is the principal legal officer of Ohemu Boni & Co wrote back in a letter dated 27th of January, 2021 requesting for a shift in date and time for the visit, specifically asking for a new date of February 18th, 2021.
“To our surprise, they (the police officers) ignored the pleadings of Kamar’s lawyer only to storm his house located at 17, Bode Edun Street, Ajuwon Town, Ogun State to effect his arrest in a commando style led by Asegun himself, one operative called Joseph Efosa (+2348060523552) and a woman police, Sona Asyncritus (+2348038481607) in three Toyota Hilux vans on the 27th of January, 2021.” The group stated.
Kamar was to call the Divisional Crime Officer (DCO) in charge of Ajuwon Police Station, whose identity is not known but could be contacted on (+2348067506244) who alongside one Inspector Christopher (+2347039230391) acted on behalf of their boss, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) to prevent the kidnapping of the auto dealer and his wife.
“As we speak to you now, the wife, Mrs. Omolara Oderinde (+2348032729828) has remained incommunicado owing to the psychological trauma she has been passing through. She told us that she has been having ceaseless menstruation since then. We are aware that Kamar and his family has been under undue spell of threats and harassment from the said buyer who happens to be a lawyer.
“The buyer has been threatening to use legal and extra-legal means to deal with Kamar who has not been sleeping in his house since January ending. This is after the younger brother to the lawyer buyer, Lawrence (+2348164985696) and his cohorts, one Emmanuel Imoize (+2348117582965) and one Chalkale Emmanuel (+2348061553707) had collected the sum N150,000 from Kamar as their commission,” the group wrote.
The group called on relevant authorities to also conduct investigation into this case as they have done with specific regards to the one involving Iba Police Station which it (CHRSJ) petitioned against in a document dated Monday 3rd of August, 2020 and other petitions including the recent one dated Monday 19th October, 2020.
“The last one dated October, 2020 affected the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) of SCID, Madam Yetunde Longe, who was later replaced by one Mr. Fayoade Adegoke presently the DCP in charge of the unit who resumed work on Wednesday 13th of January, 2021. The same thing happened at the SFU, where the former boss is to be replaced by recently promoted Commissioner of Police, Mr. Frank Mba.”
He concluded by lauding the Commissioner of Police in charge of Lagos State for instructing the Public Complaints Bureau/Department (PCB) led by one Superintendent (Mrs.) Chinyere Anakudo (+2347038142929) to investigate all the atrocities of the various police units that had earlier been mentioned adding that the men and personnel of the Area ‘F’ Command should also be included in the investigation with a view to dismissing all the listed officers including the Area Crime Officer of the Area ‘F’ Command.
