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-CASHING in on the partial paralysis of the Divisional Police Officer DPO of Apapa Divisional Headquarters CSP Samuel Durotimi, a police inspector simply identified as Inspector Rasheed (aka Alfa) has assumed the position of the DPO and taking far reaching decisions in the station. The DPO recently slumped in his office and when he was eventually revived, he had become partially paralysed. The partial paralysis which has affected his psyche is said to have affected him superintending over the affairs of his Division.
Taking advantage of the situation, the said Police Inspector who worked with the DPO at the SCIID Panti, Lagos prior to his posting, reportedly makes random arrest and detaine suspects for weeks without the decency of reporting to the DPO.
A recent incident which exposed Inspector Alfa is the arrest of one Niyi Adeniyi whose late driver( names unknown) was alleged to have tampered with some bags of cashew nuts meant for export four years ago. The late driver was equally accused of selling two empty containers also belonging to the complainant. Detained Niyi’s elder brother Solomon Adeniyi was said to have gone to the station in company of his actress daughter to secure the bail of his brother only to be detained also by InspectorAlfaon the ground that for him to have come for the bail of his brother and bearing the same surname, he must have knowledge of the crime. He was said to have equally assaulted the actress, had her camera seized and detained behind the counter. Her colleagues who heard of her detention were said to have later arrived the station to secure her bail with the sum of N120,000.00 without releasing her camera. It was gathered that Inspector Alfa and Supol Esther(Admin officer) with the knowledge of the DCO popularly called Jagunjagun allegedly demanded and got N1.5m from the complainant to get a one month remand order for both Niyi and Solomon until investigation was completed; all without the knowledge of the ailing DPO.
However, the treachery got exposed after a lawyer who knew the DPO at the SCIID, Barrister Nelson Davies came to meet the DPO for the bail of the two brothers. CSP Durosimi who is said to barely recognise people however, listened to Mr. Davis and told him that he was not aware of such arrest. The DPO was said to have sent his aid to fetch the suspects from the cell on the ground that since his officers didn’t tell him of the arrest, he would want to hear from the suspects. The suspects were later brought to the DPO accompanied by Inspector Alfa to defend his action during which he explained to the DPO that he didn’t want to bother him with the arrest because of his present health condition. He told the DPO that the suspects connived together with their driver to remove bags of cashew nuts meant for export four years ago valued at N16m and the sale of two empty containers also valued at N8m; all totally N24m and that they are not sure that the said driver had died two years ago.
It was gathered that when the DPO having listened to him, ordered for the release of the suspects while investigation continues, but Inspector Alfa who was then joined by Supol Esther told the DPO that they already have a court order for their remaned. It was learned that even when the DPO ordered the officers to go and quash the court order so that the suspects can be taken on bail the next day, they accepted before him but stood their ground of keeping them in detention.
Angered by this development, Barrister Davis reportedly wrote a transfer of case file petition to the Deputy Commissioner of Police DCP in charge of SCIID Panti, Yaba who upon listening to him, called for the suspects to be transfer to him without further delay.
Said Barrister Nelson Davis: “When I discovered that the DPO no longer has a firm control of his men because of his health, I went to meet the DC Panti with my petition to transfer the casefile. The DC was visibly angry that my clients were held for more than two weeks for an offence not directly committed by them. He asked me if they robbed I said no, he asked again if the officers find guns on them, I said no. He therefore, approved the petition promptly and asked me to mobilise the men to Apapa to bring my clients. He equally advised me to do another petition with the same contents to the Force CIID Annex Alagbon, Ikoyi in case the complainant goes there. I was however, shocked when my clients called around 5.00pm that same day while I was still at Alagbon that they were brought to meet the DC and after listening to them, they were asked to be taken out. Meanwhile, a police prosecutor at the SCIID who apparently helped the two officers at Apapa to get the remand order was said to have entered the DC’s office and the next thing was that they should be taken back to Apapa to continue with the investigation. I was devastated.”
Contacted, the police public relations officer SP Benjamin Hundeyin said he is not aware and so cannot comment but assured to find out and revert back. The Force Public Relations Officer ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi was also contacted and he said he would contact the Lagos office and get back to me. ACP Adejobe later called to say that “I have reached out to SP Hundeyin and he confirmed that the suspects were actually in detention but said there is a court order for their remaned.”
